A Wiltshire charity has been given a huge boost thanks to a donation by a local BMW dealership.

Dick Lovett in Hungerford has presented the team of volunteer emergency doctors at SWIFT Medics with a new BMW 3 Series Touring xDrive to use when responding to life-threatening emergencies across the county.

Dr Jonathan Glover, of SWIFT Medics, said: “Having a dedicated, branded car to use when we go to emergencies will be beneficial as we will be more visible to the public and our colleagues in the emergency services, which in turn will help us help patients more quickly.”

The BMW will also help keep the lifesaving volunteer doctors safe when they treat patients at the roadside and at night, thanks to its fluorescent identification, siren and fitted lights.

Julian Wraight, dealer principal at Dick Lovett BMW in Hungerford, said: “The emergency care provided by SWIFT Medics is invaluable to our local area. As they do not receive national funding, the volunteer emergency doctors were using their personal vehicles when responding to emergencies at significant expense – until now that is. We are delighted to donate a new BMW... which will be vital in enabling SWIFT Medics to continue giving out-of-hospital emergency medical care to our local community.”

SWIFT Medics doctors respond to incidents where patients have suffered a serious injury or other life-threatening medical emergency anywhere in Wiltshire and Swindon. They work alongside ambulance paramedics and air ambulance crews and are able to provide enhanced care, including stronger pain relief and surgery.