The U.K.'s Staffordshire Air Ambulance's EC135 has become operational, flying from a temporary base at Tatenhill airfield near Burton-on-Trent.

Ian Clayton, operations manager, says: "A permanent base at Hixon Airfield near Stafford has received planning consent and should come into operation within six months. Meanwhile the aircraft and crew will provide a 10-hour, seven-day a week operation from Tatenhill."

The aircraft is part of the County Air Ambulance fleet which has two other EC135s.