REGULARS at a local pub have chosen the County Air Ambulance as their charity of choice for the year.

The Defford Arms, in Defford, near Pershore, has adopted the charity for 2008 and has already planned a pig roast and entertainment event to raise funds.

Pub owner Neil Overton, aged 32, said: "There are a couple of lads in the village who have motorbikes and a couple of farmers who have had accidents so we all took a vote and decided to support the air ambulance because they get no money from the government.

"I am trying to give up smoking with a couple of the regulars, so the main goal is to run the London Marathon for the charity, even if we raise a couple of hundred pounds at least it will get the helicopter off the ground for a few minutes."

County Air Ambulance was originally based at Croft Farm Airfield in Defford, before moving to RAF Cosford near Strensham. The cost of running and maintaining operations stands at £5.6 million, for which the charity relies entirely on donations.

Annie Newell, fund-raising coordinator, said: "County Air Ambulance welcomes the generous support given by Neil and his customers at the Defford Arms, who will be helping save lives across the region.""

The charity would like to hear from more pubs in the area who would like to make the helicopter service their charity of the year.