A CELEBRITY patron is urging Dorset residents to help out during National Air Ambulance Week.

Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button is once again throwing his weight behind Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

As vice-patron, Mr Button is reminding people that the local service is in need of £1.7m this year.

National Air Ambulance Week is taking place this week and ends on Sunday.

As part of the initiative, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance landed at Bridport Leisure Centre to raise awareness of the charity.

The racing champion said: “I understand the importance of having a highly skilled and dedicated team behind you and the crew of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance certainly match this criteria.

“It is the ideal time to think about how you might be able to make a difference.

“You could organise a fundraising event, dress in yellow at your workplace or school, join up to the charity’s Flight for Life Lottery or become a volunteer.

“Whatever you do and whenever you do it, I am sure it will make you feel as proud as I am, to be associated with such a worthwhile cause.”

National Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) is put together by the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA).

Other celebrities including Ray Winstone, Mo Farah, Zara Phillips and Jennie Bond have also thrown their weight behind the fundraising drive by appearing in a short video montage.

Mr Button has been a vice-patron of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance since its formation in March 2000.

He said: “I was born in Frome, Somerset, a rural part of the county which is covered by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and I regularly saw first-hand its importance to the local community.

“So many people have witnessed their life-saving work firsthand and they deserve our utmost respect and admiration. “Their work however, is dependent on the thousands of people who give so generously as they, like many other air ambulance charities receive no direct funding from the government or the National Lottery.”

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has attended more than 9,500 emergencies since its launch in March 2000, saving many lives and aiding recovery with rapid delivery to hospital.

More information can be found by visiting dsairambulance.org.uk or by calling 01823 669604.

To donate, text DSAA02 £10 to 70070.