West Wiltshire District Council has backed the Gazette & Herald's campaign to save the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Councillors at Wednesday's meeting of West Wiltshire District Council gave their full backing to efforts to save the service.

Council leader Graham Payne said he would write to the Great Western Ambulance Service opposing any moves to a regional air ambulance.

LibDem opposition leader Trevor Carbin pointed out that many local people and organisations were involved in fund-raising to support it, and as such there was a sense of ownership by the people of Wiltshire in their Air Ambulance.

"As a land-locked county the Air Ambulance is effectively Wiltshire's lifeboat," he said. "A couple of years ago public opinion forced a change of heart on the government's plans to regionalise our police force.

"We may need a similar campaign to save the Air Ambulance. I'm pleased that the council will be supporting press campaigns to retain this vital service."