Copter crew in money laundering operation (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Copter crew in money laundering operation

8:00am Saturday 11th March 2006 in Wiltshire By Lewis Cowen

POLICE and paramedics have found themselves engaged in a money laundering operation after three buckets full of coins arrived at the Air Support Unit in Devizes.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance, which needs to raise around £350,000 a year from public donations to cover its costs, is used to receiving money in all kinds of forms, but last week's contribution was particularly unusual.

The coins came from the pond in the Butterfly House at Longleat, near Warminster, and were covered in green slime. Visitors to the venue throw their small change into the pond as a kind of wishing well.

Staff at Longleat decided they needed to clear the coins out, as there was a considerable quantity of them, and offered the money to the Air Ambulance Appeal.

A member of staff plans to bring along his cement mixer and use it as a washing machine. The coins may not end up in mint condition but at least they will be acceptable at the bank!

It is estimated they will amount to £150 in total.

Mike Evans, head of operations at the Air Support Unit, said: "We are always grateful for donations, in whatever guise they arrive, as the money is crucial to keep the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in the air.

"This has to be one of the most unusual donations I can recall and I would like to thank the staff at the Butterfly House in Longleat for thinking of us."