WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance has received a £240,000 cash boost to fund additional paramedics.

The money is from the Libor fund, made up of cash paid in fines by banks that had rigged interest rates, and was agreed on Tuesday after a meeting between fund administrators and Chancellor George Osborne.

The money will be used to pay for up to four new paramedics to work on WAA.

Currently, there are six critical care paramedics working on the helicopter, but with the charity now operating a dedicated air ambulance and with plans to re-commence night flying the clinical crew has doubled to two paramedics. The charity is aiming for the air ambulance to fly at night starting in late spring after the pilots and paramedics have undergone training using Night Vision Goggles (NVG).

David Philpott, chief executive of WAA, said: “We are delighted that Wiltshire Air Ambulance has been awarded this funding.

“The additional paramedics will join our existing Critical Care paramedics, pilots and charity team in delivering a gold standard service to the people of Wiltshire.

“The announcement of the Libor funds award has happened rather quickly so I need to start a dialogue with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.’’