AIR ambulance bosses are celebrating after the Government signalled a possible U-turn which could see it receive vital extra cash.

The North West's Air Ambulance Service has had to rely on local fundraisers to keep the Blackpool-based mercy helicopter in the air.

But The Department of Health (DoH) is now reviewing whether to provide money for the service in coming years -- and East Lancashire MPs will launch a campaign for government funding for the air ambulance next week when they return to Westminster.

The move was welcomed today by Alan Jude, director of finance at the Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which runs the service, who said: "This would enable some of the money raised from charities to be spent elsewhere in the NHS."

Over the last two years the DoH has provided more than £400,000 to support the £800,000-a-year cost of keeping the air ambulance flying.

That money runs out on March 31 2004 and for the following 12 months enough money has been raised from charities and the public to keep the service going.

But a statement from the DoH revealed a review to see whether Government cash should be provided.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope is to launch a Commons campaign to provide full funding for the North West Air Ambulance and their counterparts elsewhere in the country with the cross party backing of Tory MP Nigel Evans, who has already written to Health Secretary John Reid on the issue.

Mr Pope said: "This is a vital service which should be funded by the government. I shall also be writing to Dr Reid."

Mr Evans said: "I shall fully support Greg's campaign as this is an issue that crosses party boundaries."

A DoH statement said: "The DoH is commissioning further primary research that will examine the role and effectiveness of air ambulance services in a modern NHS.

"The first stage is already under way and further work is due to be completed 2004."