The new ambulance - based in Darlington - will serve people living throughout Teesside, south Durham and North Yorkshire.

Until recently, the nearest helicopter ambulance was stationed about 60 miles away in Northumberland.

Grahame Pickering, of Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA), told BBC News Online they need financial help to ensure the service stays airborne.

The ambulance belongs to the local community and it will be there as long as they are prepared to support it

Grahame Pickering

He said its long-term survival depended on the generosity of local people and donations from the business community, after a national sponsorship deal with the AA expired in March.

"We are going to run the service five days a week, for four weeks in a kind of 'suck it and see' exercise," said Mr Pickering.

"Money is the priority here. It costs about �70,000 per month to run an air ambulance.

"The Great North Air Ambulance Service is a charity and we rely on donations.

"We need a lot of money to run this aircraft continually from Teesside Airport and, in that respect, we need the support of local people but, more importantly, from regional businesses.

"The ambulance belongs to the local community and it will be there as long as they are prepared to support it."

Essential service

Mr Pickering said the air ambulance in Blyth had brought tremendous benefits to people living in remote parts of Northumberland.

He said his aim was to provide comprehensive air cover for the whole region.

"The ambulance in Northumberland is essential to their community," he added.

"It can reach casualties in remote areas, when roads are blocked... and once it has picked them up, it can get them to hospital within eight minutes."