Spiralling costs could force the air ambulance service to be axed, writes Reg Little.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance trustees say they are faced with finding 25,000 a month to keep the life-saving helicopter in operation.

And they have called for a review of the air ambulance which covers Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire amid renewed worries about whether it offers value for money.

The 4m helicopter was lucky to survive an emergency landing earlier this month when it crash landed close to a school fete near Wokingham after suffering mechanical failure.

But funding difficulties could spell the end of the air ambulance. Sponsorship from the AA has fallen from 840,000 which covered the leasing of the helicopter and flying costs in the first year of operation to 630,000 this year, and this will drop another 25 per cent in 2001. In addition to this, the trust must pay for the paramedics and equipment.

Its chairman, Pamela Tomlinson, said: "There is concern about the whole concept. Questions need to be answered like are the people of Thames Valley getting value for money?

"It is a worthwhile service, but it is a luxury and very expensive. Next year AA sponsorship will drop to 50 per cent."

She called for greater support and co-operation from Oxfordshire, saying the ambulance was still regarded as being Reading-based.

It has been in operation for little more than a year ago after a 500,000 appeal, but out of 800 calls, only 30 have been in the Oxfordshire area.

Oxfordshire Ambulance Trust spokesman, Aubrey Bell, seemed to distance it from the air ambulance.

He said: "We have no financial dealings with it whatsoever. We have not invested a penny.

All we do is call it when we need it."