An appeal to raise £500,000 to build a new air ambulance base has won the backing of a regional daily.

The South Wales Evening Post has joined forces with Wales Air Ambulance, which is hoping to build a new headquarters to enable it to base all of its aircraft on the same site.

The charity believes the initiative will save tens of thousands of pounds each year in reduced costs, including rent and fuel supply.

In a message to readers, Post editor Jonathan Roberts urged readers to donate to the cause.

An artist’s impression of the new Wales Air Ambulance base

He said: “The value of the Wales Air Ambulance to the country’s emergency service cannot be underestimated.

“Its ability to access some of Wales’s most inaccessible locations, and cover ground at more than two miles per minute, means countless lives have been saved in the past 14 years.

“The luxury of such a service comes, of course, at a significant cost — at £6m a year, the Wales Air Ambulance isn’t cheap.

“Nor does it benefit from any Government funding, highlighting the tremendous challenge facing its fundraising team.”

With the support of donations, the charity’s new base in Llanelli will boast the latest technology and advanced facilities for aircrews who cover what has become one of the UK’s busiest air ambulance operations.

The charity is currently based in Swansea, where the Post also has its headquarters.

Joanthan added: “While Swansea has proudly hosted the air ambulance since its inception, the city should not look on its plans to relocate to Llanelli as a loss to the city.

“What is most important is that the service is positioned in a location where it can be most effective, not just for Swansea, but for those in need across the country.

“Reaching speeds of 150mph, the trip across the Loughor Bridge shouldn’t present any serious reduction in response times to the city.

“If a base slightly further west means more lives saved, and countless more injuries treated quickly, then that can only be good news all round.

“The Wales Air Ambulance deserves our support — after all, we never know when we will need it.”