The charity needs donations of £1m a year to run the service.

It is currently £200,000 short of the target which must be met by the end of the financial year in March.

Director of fundraising John Sutherland said: "We are very hopeful we will meet this target.

Mike Lindley: Praised service

"As a worst case scenario, we will have to ground the helicopter for a day every week.

"But there is no question of losing the helicopter altogether."

The air ambulance is called out 100 times a month, averaging four times a day.

Mick Lindley, who works for the service, said the speed of the craft really does save lives.

"It's not always a question of how quickly the aircraft can get to the scene of the incident.

"It's how quickly we can get the patient with severe injuries to the most appropriate treatment centre.

"This is what makes the difference with the air ambulance - it's the speed."

The craft can be airborne in two minutes and travels at up to 140 mph, reaching anywhere in Yorkshire within 25 minutes.

Paramedics can give urgent treatment to patients most in need, followed by rapid transfer to hospital.