A group of postmen and women from Bradford will be hoping for unseasonably warm weather this winter as they have pledged to wear shorts to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.

The team of five workers at the West Bradford Delivery Office in Thornton Road, Bradford, have launched their fundraising effort for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance after the helicopter heroes helped to save the life of their colleague, Mick Duffy.

Mr Duffy was out with his racing pigeons at Leathley, near Otley, in March when he collapsed, suffering from a heart attack.

He managed to call his wife Janet, who phoned an ambulance. Because of the nature of Mr Duffy’s incident and the fact he was in a rural and isolated spot, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called to airlift him to Leeds General Infirmary for emergency treatment.

Now, as a thank you to the paramedics and pilots who saved his life, Mr Duffy’s colleagues are launching their own fundraising campaign and will be trying to wear shorts throughout the winter to raise as much money as possible.

Mr Duffy said: “I can’t believe the wonderful work that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance do. Without their help I would have been in very serious danger because of where I was when I was taken ill and the fact I needed urgent medical treatment fast.”

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