The Government has bailed out Yorkshire's fledgling air ambulance service in a bid to continue saving lives.

Health minister Hazel Blears visited Leeds to announce a £2.2 million windfall for air ambulance charities as well as agreeing to fund their paramedics. The cash will be allocated over the next two years.

Yorkshire's yellow helicopter took to the skies in October 2000, with the help of its sponsor, the AA. Based at Leeds Bradford Airport, it has flown 1,300 missions to date and costs £1 million to run each year.

But the AA funding has drawn to a close and the service has had to rely on charitable gifts.

Chairman of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and Bradford plastic surgeon, Professor David Sharpe, said he was delighted with the Government money, which would give them more time to expand fundraising in the long term.

"The Government is bailing us out because the AA funding has stopped," he said. "I don't want people to think we can stop raising money."

A recent study proved the response times for air ambulances were far better than road ambulances, he added.

"It means we can take people straight to specialist neurological or burns units without having to stop off at the nearest hospital.

"Those first few moments after an injury are absolutely critical to survival. There's no question that the Air Ambulance will save many lives in Yorkshire in the future."

Pudsey MP Paul Truswell said he had lobbied the Government for public funding on many occasions after learning that Yorkshire did not receive some public funding, unlike other air ambulance services.

"Today's announcement about paramedics is great news, but I shall continue lobbying to get Yorkshire a fair share of the £2.2 million," he added.

Ms Blears said: "We realise that it takes time for local air ambulance charities, particularly new ones, to build their fundraising base. This money will make sure that, via local ambulance Trusts, air ambulance charities who aren't yet in a position to meet their full running costs are supported until they have funding from other public and corporate sources."