The Great North Air Ambulance Service will be grounding its Blyth helicopter from March 31. It has been based at Blyth since 1994 and has carried out over 6,000 missions.

“Funding for the helicopters has fallen,” said Grahame Pickering, chief executive for GNAAS. “Like many charities, our donations have been dramatically affected by the Tsunami Appeal.”

The charity, which receives no government funding, is appealing to the people and businesses in the North of England for support.

While the Blyth helicopter is not flying, GNAAS will be covering the area with the Teesside helicopters based at Durham Tees Valley Airport.