ACCORDING to legend, it was started "on a wing and a prayer" and rarely can a phrase have been better used.

Because it comes out of the heavens bringing hope, comfort and, hopefully, salvation.

Superman is not the only angel in red that flies.

There is also the County Air Ambulance, a familiar sight zooming across the skies of Worcestershire and Herefordshire on its missions of mercy.

Since the service was launched 10 years ago, the red helicopters have become such a vital part of the emergency services, you wonder how we ever managed without them - yet still their future is touch and go.

Almost unbelievably, despite a decade of proving its worth, the Air Ambulance receives no government support at all.

It was set up entirely by public donation and that's the way things have been ever since.

From one helicopter flying out of Halfpenny Green airfield, just north of Kidderminster, the operation has grown to cover 10 Midland counties from three permanent sites.

There are now Air Ambulance helicopters on stand-by at RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, East Midlands Airport at Castle Donnington and the most recent base, opened three years ago, alongside Strensham Service Station on the northbound carriageway of the M5.

"The service costs £2.4m every year to run and everything comes from the public," said co-ordinator Anne Newell.

"It's a constant battle, especially when there are so many worthy causes people can give their money to.

"We just have to hope we are somewhere near the top of their list."

Plans are in hand for a big fund-raising event this year and individuals and businesses are likely to find letters dropping on their mat asking for help.

Anne is staging a Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse on Wednesday, July 4, 2002 and is seeking sponsors.

"It might sound a long way ahead, but we have to plan this far in advance to make sure it is a success," she added.

"There are a lot of things to cover and by making the approach this early, it gives companies, in particular, time to consider their finances."

Of course, the factor that puts the Air Ambulance high in public conscience is that anyone might need it at any time.

True, its fort is reaching incidents in out-of-the-way places that could prove difficult for land ambulances, but you don't need to be a farm worker, forester, rambler or pot-holer to be grateful for the speed of air travel.

Many times, the Air Ambulance is used to convey victims in road accidents to specialist injury units.

"One of our regular trips is to the spinal injuries unit at Gobowan, near Oswestry," said paramedic Dave Lee.

"From the Worcester area we can make the distance in 35 minutes, but a land ambulance would take around two hours. That's a lot of difference."

It also puts the treatment time within the "golden hour", the deadline seriously injured patients need to reach a suitable centre to have the best chance of survival.

"The speed of the helicopter gives many more options," Dave added.

Two paramedics at a time are seconded from local ambulance services to serve with each Air Ambulance and they travel in the helicopter with the pilot.

They normally work one week per month with the airborn service on a rota system.

This ensures as many medics as possible have experience with the Air Ambulance and also spreads the trauma load around.

"You will see more trauma situations in a week with the helicopter than you will see in a year with the land vehicles," said Dave. "And it would be very wearing to be based with it all the time."

Although there is room for two stretcher cases to be carried in each helicopter, more usually it is just one, seriously injured person.

This gives the two paramedics space to work on the patient, one concentrating on the head area and the other the upper torso.

"Injuries below the waist, once stabilised, are unlikely to be life threatening," explained Dave, a former pupil of Droitwich High School, who joined the Ambulance Service 10 years ago.

"I think the most satisfying example I can remember of the Air Ambulance is the time we attended a road accident that produced three multiple injury patients.

"By operating a shuttle system, we got them to three different treatment centres all within the golden hour."

Next time, it could be you, so if a letter from Anne Newell arrives in your post, in everyone's interest, please help.

In the meantime, her number is 01684 593441.