A RECORD number of missions were carried out by The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) in the first six months of 2017, it has been revealed.

The ambulance service carried out a total of 917 missions across six counties, with Bristol seeing the busiest amount (329), Gloucestershire coming second (167) and North Somerset coming third (106).

South Gloucestershire saw 102 callouts, while Bath & North Somerset and Wiltshire experienced 59 and 51 respectively. 123 missions were also carried out in other locations.

The total figure, if repeated during the following six months of 2017, will mean that the charity has experienced its busiest year to date.

Acting as a flying accident and emergency department, GWAAC carry specialist equipment which normal ambulances do not.

Their critical care paramedics and doctors are trained to administer specialist treatments which cannot be given on-board normal ambulance services.

It costs £2.6million a year to stay operational, and GWAAC receive no day to day funding from the Government or National Lottery. Instead, they remain able to save lives through the generosity of the public.

A spokesman for GWAAC said: "This continued support from the public and community has allowed for the charity to advance and provide life-saving care to even more patients each year that it is operational.

"Their generosity has allowed the team to provide life-saving care to the 917 patients treated within the last six months."

To find out more visit www.gwaac.com.