ST JOHN Ambulance volunteers have reached the half-way mark in their appeal to improve their service in York.

The Evening Press-backed Life Savers Appeal to raise £45,000 aims to buy a new Crusader ambulance for use in the city.

The new Crusader ambulance costs £42,000 and the extra £3,000 will pay for a state-of-the-art stretcher, an air conditioning system to help people suffering from heat exhaustion, and an automatic defibrillator.

It will help save lives and provide medical cover at events in and around the city.

So far there is £12,700 in the bank, with a further £10,000 pledged by groups, organisations and individuals.

The latest donation came from the York and Ainsty Rotary Club, which supplied £3,500 to purchase a stretcher.

David Sutton, fundraising appeal manager, said people in York had been extremely generous.

He said: "With this new ambulance and equipment we will be able to offer the people of York and the surrounding area the best possible service.

"Every single penny we raise is used at the sharp end. All our administration costs are paid for by the first aid training that we provide."

To contribute to the appeal, send cheques made payable to St John Ambulance Appeal, c/o David Sutton, St John Ambulance, St John House, 236 Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 2EZ, or go into any high street bank and pay into account number 60382078, sort code 20-82-94.

Updated: 09:08 Tuesday, May 27, 2003