THE mayor of Halstead has donated hundreds of pounds to a life-saving rescue service.

Town council chairman Andrew Munday handed over a cheque worth £1,400 to Clair Mitchell of the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust during a presentation at Earls Colne Airfield, where the service is based.

The contribution came from Mr Munday’s year in office, where he picked a charity for the town council to fundraise for.

The money was raised from the Christmas torchlight procession, a raffle and the civic service.

A town council spokesman said: “This donation will assist in the running of the two air ambulances run out of Earls Colne and Hertfordshire, the cost of which, including all equipment, staff and helicopters, now comes to £9million per year.”