WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance is launching a £25,000 lottery prize each month.

The new Superdraw is scheduled to start next Easter, by which time supporters should be able to sign up to the charity’s lottery via its website. Players are currently recruited by canvassers.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance Lottery, operated by The Air Ambulance Lottery Society, has enjoyed increased charity lottery income, along with many charity lotteries and currently has 21,773 players, who between them have raised more than £500,000 a year.

In the last year, more than 6,500 new players joined the air ambulance lottery, despite tough economic times.

Claire Kelly, head of events and charity services at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We are extremely grateful to the many thousands of Wiltshire people who are already supporting our lottery. By joining the lottery people are helping to secure the long-term future of our life-saving service.

“As we don’t receive any government or National Lottery funding, we are totally reliant on the generosity and support of local people to keep us flying.”

Wiltshire Air Ambulance Lottery tickets cost £1 a week, with a top weekly prize of £1,000 and a further four £25 weekly prizes.