OUR campaign to save Wiltshire's air ambulance and police helicopter for the county has continued to grow and the sporting community is doing its bit.

Thousands of people have signed our petition and are organising events to raise the profile of the service.

A charity football match at Devizes Town FC helped raise £350 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance on Sunday.

Sunday League Division Three champions AFC Bell lost 5-4 on penalties to a Devizes Old Boys side after a thrilling 3-3 draw in front of 100 spectators at Nursteed Road.

The club organised the match after one of its spectators was injured two weeks ago and had to be airlifted to hospital.

She has made a full recovery but the accident showed how vital the air ambulance is to the sporting community in the county.

AFC Bell player/manager Craig Townsend was pleased with the money raised, if not the result.

He said: "I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who chipped into the bucket -there was £120 raised by the spectators alone. We raised £150 by auctioning our positions and the old boys collected £80.

Meanwhile police officer Heather Barham is organising a Horse Watch Extravaganza, at Kington Langley to raise money for the air ambulance.

The second hand tack sale will be held at Limetrees Equestrian Centre from 10am to 4pm on July 19, with a hog roast and a disco from 8pm.

PC Barham, who is in charge of Horse Watch neighbourhood watch scheme, says the air ambulance can help riders when a normal ambulance cannot.

She said: "The air ambulance helps riders off the beaten track where a normal ambulance couldn't reach. "

The sale will also have stalls raising awareness about the air ambulance and horse equipment security.

To offer help, call PC Barham on 0845 408 7000.