FREEMASONS who meet in St Albans, Harpenden and Radlett are continuing to help keep the county s air ambulance flying. Lodges from across Hertfordshire have spent months raising money in aid of the life-saving service. Now the freemasons Grand Charity, t

FREEMASONS who meet in St Albans, Harpenden and Radlett are continuing to help keep the county's air ambulance flying.

Lodges from across Hertfordshire have spent months raising money in aid of the life-saving service.

Now the freemasons' Grand Charity, the national fundraising arm, has added its weight to their efforts.

A cheque from the Grand Charity for �4,000 was recently handed over by Hertfordshire's Assistant Provincial Grand Master James Young.

Mr Young said air ambulances played an important role in ensuring people got the medical help they needed as quickly as possible.

"For those in life-threatening situations this can dramatically improve their chance of survival," he said.

"Hertfordshire freemasons and the Grand Charity are delighted to again support the Hertford-shire Air Ambulance service and be contributing to the continued provision of this excellent service."

The Grand Charity money will pay for sufficient fuel to keep the helicopter airborne for 11 hours.

Since its inauguration last November, the helicopter has flown 213 missions, at an average cost of �2,000 a mission.

Nationwide freemasons have contributed more than �500,000 to the nation's air ambulance charities. It is a charity they plan to continue supporting.

* Earlier this year Hertfordshire freemasons donated �3.1 million to its Grand Charity. The money was raised over the last five years by the 207 lodges in the county.