The life-saving helicopter flew to 26 incidents across the Yorkshire region in one week, including 10 traffic accidents and a light aircraft crash.

The crew was first on the scene seven times, carried 16 patients and treated a further eight at the scene, a spokeswoman for the charity said.

The helicopter flew to 10 different hospitals during the period, she added.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance aircraft dispatcher Chris Solomons said the number of stand-downs - when the helicopter is on its way to an incident but turned back as not required - had been reduced, improving efficiency.

He said: "We are doing this by getting more information from the initial call and if necessary calling back to get further details.