Huntsmen and women who frequently risk injury when their horses dash over fences in the heat of the chase showed their thanks to Wiltshire Air Ambulance on Tuesday by presenting its appeal fund with a cheque for £600.

In recent months the air ambulance has tended to two riders associated with the Tedworth Hunt whose joint master Simon Robinson handed over the cheque on Tuesday to air ambulance appeal organiser Claire Kelly and paramedic Bruce Jarvis. Mr Robinson said: “The donation is being made by the hunt in recognition of the important role the air ambulance plays, not only in tending to fallen riders, but to the agricultural community as a whole.”

In November the hunt, whose kennels are in Burbage, organised a series of picnic rides. A percentage of profits was donated to Hampshire Air Ambulance because the hunt’s territory is on both sides of the county border.