THE Essex and Herts Air Ambulance is set to receive a £1.5 million cash injection from the Government.

The one-off grant is part of the £10 million set aside by former Chancellor Philip Hammond to help the country’s air ambulance charities continue the “fantastic job” they do at getting “those with life-threatening illnesses and injuries to the expert medical care they need”.

The windfall will now help the charity pay for a planned new airbase at North Weald, which is expected to cost about £4 million, freeing up money they had already saved for other services.

Air ambulance boss Jane Gurney said: “We are delighted to receive this contribution from government.

“It will mean some of the funds initially put aside for our new premises at North Weald can now be used to help develop and improve the life-saving service we provide for patients.”