Readers of The Melton Times in Leicestershire have raised £12,000 in just six weeks for an air ambulance appeal.

The Times launched a campaign in January to raise £10,000 in ten weeks but exceeded the target with four weeks to spare.

The pledge is part of a wider campaign to raise £300,000 by the end of the month for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance to operate a helicopter from East Midlands Airport.

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck, who grew up in Leicester, has agreed to be the Air Ambulance’s patron and will head up its charity campaigns.

Melton Times editor Michael Cooke said: “To hit our target in just six weeks is amazing. Now we want to smash it in the four remaining weeks of our appeal.”

The charity, which receives no Government funding, requires £1.5m per year to keep the helicopter operational.

The Times opened an account with the Melton Building Society where readers could go and donate money with East Midlands Airport donating £1,000 to start the ball rolling.

The Times has also championed a host of fund-raising activities around the town including a swimathon, Bring a Pound to Work Day, a series of Sunday quiz nights which raised £1,500 in two months and a day painting Melton yellow.