Yorkshire Air Ambulance has made a plea for people to fill a Christmas sack for the region’s helicopter heroes.

The rapid response charity is calling on people to clear out unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, curtains and bedding and donate them to the YAA through its recycling campaign.

Partnership manager Katie Collinson said: “The lead up to the festive season and the Christmas period itself is a really good time to have a clear-out of those wardrobes and drawers.

“We’re asking people if they will make us a gift of their unwanted items, whether it’s that dodgy Christmas jumper or slippers, or that dress that’s been hung up for years but never worn. It’ll be an ideal Christmas present for the YAA.

“We work closely with our recycling partner BIU Group and since we launched our recycling scheme back in 2005, over £1million has been raised through recycling across the region.

"Recycling is worth around £300,000 a year to the charity and is a valuable sustainable income stream for us.”

The charity has more than 250 textile recycling banks at household waste sites, supermarkets and car parks across the county.

The charity, which provides a rapid response emergency service needs to raise £9,990 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained.