It costs �1m a year to run the air ambulance service

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance has launched a corporate sponsor scheme to fund its lifesaving flights.

It costs �375 each time the craft takes off from its base at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

The helicopter can reach Barnsley within 10 minutes and Sheffield and Doncaster within a quarter of an hour.

Now businesses in South Yorkshire are being invited to dig deep into their pockets by paying for a one-off flight or taking on different levels of membership from �1,000 to �10,000.

Rapid transfer

The service is visiting electrical goods firm Morphy Richards, Talbot Road, Mexborough, on Friday to tell staff about its work.

John Sutherland, director of fundraising, said: "With the help of businesses across South Yorkshire we can continue to raise the necessary funds to continue to save the lives of people across the county."

Staffed by a pilot and two paramedics, the air ambulance costs �1m a year to keep flying.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is dependant on donations to fund the service.