Witham's life saving medical volunteer force, St John Ambulance Brigade, has been given a Christmas cash lifeline by one of the town's charitable organisations.

The town's St John team was fighting an uphill struggle to raise close to £40,000 for a new ambulance to meet EU regulations or close down its local services.

The service also needed to find another £4,000 to buy and fit out a back-up vehicle.

Now Witham Round Table has stepped in with a £2,000 Christmas cash boost to help buy the support vehicle - and has pledged to raise the balance by the middle of the coming year.

This week, a delighted Mrs Paula Franklin, treasurer of Witham St John Ambulance said: "I am absolutely over the moon. I literally went weak at the knees when I heard the news.

"We thought it was bad enough when we learnt we had to raise almost £40,000 for a new ambulance to meet new stringent EU regulations, but the need to buy a support vehicle as well has almost overwhelmed us.

"This is a real shot in the arm and could not have come at a more opportune time, as we can then go into the new year concentrating on raising the money for the new ambulance, in the knowledge that not only can we buy the back up vehicle, but will have the money to fit it out as well.

"We just can't say how grateful we are to the Round Table for their help."

Spokesman for Witham Round Table, Mr Sean Bunch said this week: "When we heard of their plight we immediately thought we would like to help as the service they offer affects so many local people and organisations in the course of a year.

"They are totally reliant on volunteers and have to raise all the money they need themselves, even to putting fuel into the vehicles to go to events which they then man on a volunteer basis," he said.

Mr Bunch added: "Many people think they receive some form of official funding, but this is not the case.

"The cash we will be giving comes from the proceeds of the annual fireworks display we arranged. This is really fitting as the money was given totally by local people, and will go back to helping this organisation which works free for local people."

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