CUMBRIA’S Great North Air Ambulance has received a £791.56 boost saved from customer donations to a collecting tin on the counter of The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop.

“It’s a fantastic local charity and one we are always delighted to support,” said Joanne Wilson, manager of the world-famous Lake District tourist attraction.

“It’s amazing how a few coppers here, a few bits of silver there have mounted up to such a sizeable amount.”

Based at Langwathby near Penrith, the helicopter flies between three and five missions every day.

It has saved the lives of countless numbers of people and eased the suffering of many more.

“I have been surprised at just how many visitors to our shop from the rest of the UK have heard about the Great North Air Ambulance,” added Joanne, who lies at Castletown, Penrith with her family.

“A lot of people think about it being involved in mountain rescues but it does in fact attend all sorts of accidents including road smashes.”

“We’ve now put the collecting tin back on the counter, alongside the certificate from the Great North Air Ambulance, to start another fund-raising run,” said Joanne.