A CAR dealer has continued its ongoing support for a vital Essex charity for the fourth consecutive year.

Ford dealer Gates is supporting Earls Colne’s Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) by providing a new vehicle to assist the charity in its lifesaving work.

Representatives from Gates, which has dealerships located across Essex, paid a visit to EHAAT’s airbase to hand over the keys to a new Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid.

The vehicle, which carries EHAAT’s distinctive branding, will enable the team to travel between the charity’s two airbases, fundraising offices, and shops, as well as events across Essex and Hertfordshire.

It is the fourth vehicle presented by Gates and is a further step in EHAAT’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact.

It joins the other hybrid vehicles used by the charity, which include two plug-in hybrid Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) purchased by the charity in February 2022, which are used by EHAAT’s clinical teams.

Using the vehicles means when the teams are making their vital journeys, they can switch between electric and petrol.

Pam Withrington, fundraising and marketing director at EHAAT, said: “As a charity which receives only limited funding from Government, we rely heavily on the generosity of individuals and businesses such as Gates, and we are very thankful for their continued support especially during these challenging times.

“We are committed to making the very best choices not only for our patients, staff and the community but also for the environment, so we are extremely grateful to Gates for this generous gesture."