A life-saving charity is encouraging people to get fundraising this Christmas.

As the holiday season approaches, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has shared a few festive fundraising ideas which will help to raise funds, enabling the service to be there for patients.

The local life-saving charity is 95 per cent funded by charitable giving and receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery.

Every mission costs approximately £3,500 and with operational costs rising, public support is needed now, more than ever.

Some of the suggestions include dedicating your Christmas lights to DSAA, hosting a mince pie morning, organising a festive fancy dress day, holding a Christmas Fair and organising a festive bake sale.

Since 2000, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has been providing lifesaving, pre-hospital critical care, to patients in need and last year, they saw to 2,424 incidents.

Emma Jones, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager said: “Fundraising during the festive season can be so much fun. Whether you’re an individual, a school, a business or a group, there’s so many ways to get involved.

“Every penny raised will make a huge difference and £25 could help towards the cost of a vital pint of blood, £50 could help provide a blanket to provide warmth and comfort and £100 could contribute to an airway kit for managing unconscious patients with traumatic brain injuries.”