A THIRD life-saving helicopter has been added to the region’s fleet.

The North West Air Ambulance charity announced the new addition this week, which it hopes will allow staff to undertake more critical and intensive work at emergency scenes.

The aircraft is planned to be put into action after successful completion of a trial this month. Based at Barton airfield in Salford it will support transfers between intensive care units and provide a greater coverage of service.

Whilst it will be coloured red until its trial is completed, it will be painted yellow if it joins the region’s main fleet.

Since 1999 the charity has flown more than 11,000 missions across the region.