"LIVES could be lost" if one of the region's most valuable charities becomes unable to secure the funding it needs to operate.

The Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) is set to lose more than £100,000 a month as an entire season of fundraising events and activities that would usually generate scores of income have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The life-saving charity, which responded to 350 call outs in Cumbria last year, costing more than £1m, relies on donations to survive.

GNAAS spokesman Jim Entwistle (corr), said: "We fully support every attempt being made to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But the side effect of the restrictions is that a huge chunk of our projected income has been scratched out overnight. People aren’t running marathons, they aren’t holding bake sales and all that vital community engagement work we do to raise awareness has been cancelled.

“We don’t have a money tree. We rely on donations to survive. And if those donations cease for a prolonged period, it would have a profound effect on our ability to respond to emergency call-outs."

He continued: "The loss of our operation in Cumbria would lead to many lives being lost unnecessarily.

“We have proven our service is able to save critically ill and injured people by delivering high levels of care at the scene and, if required, by flying them across the country to specialist centres in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.”

Lack of funds grounded the aircraft in 2005, when after widespread flooding in Cumbria and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, donations were diverted to other causes.

"We have done everything possible to make sure that doesn’t happen again. So we have been able to put some aside for a scenario like the one we are currently experiencing. But that isn’t a bottomless pit, and we cannot simply sit back and wait for it to run out," said Mr Entwistle.

"We need help from the public and from the Government to see us through to the other side of this and to make sure we are still here for the longer term.

"We are backing the cross-party calls for the Chancellor to provide immediate support for frontline charities which alleviate pressure on the NHS, which our service is proven to do. We thank all the MPs who have already supported this move and hope more will do the same."

The GNAAS operates across the Cumbria, the North East and North Yorkshire and costs, on average, £3,000 per call-out.

Last year its helicopters and rapid response cars attended 1,680 incidents across the region.

Fundraisers this month were set to generate about £80,000. Added to the loss of clothing collections, the downturn of general donations, and the temporary closure of small businesses where collection tins are based, the actual amount is expected to exceed £100,000 each month.

The charity receives no Government funding but Mr Entwistle said this independence has enabled it to develop the level of service on offer and means staff are not being drafted in to hospitals and can continue flying. "We are absolutely dependent on the public to keep supporting us. They always have, which we are immensely grateful for, but we just hope they stick with us over what will be a tough period," he added.

Please visit www.gnaas.com or call 01325 487263 to help.