THE Mayor of Dudley joined celebrity John Challis to launch the new headquarters of Midlands Air Ambulance.

Mr Challis, best known as dodgy car dealer Boycie from the classic TV comedy Only Fools and Horses, called at the charity's base on Dudley Road, Lye, for the official opening of the new offices on Thursday September 5.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) moved to the new premises, in Hawthorne House, from a site in Brierley Hill.

MAAC chiefs say the new headquarters provides more than double the office space but at half the cost.

Mayor of Dudley, cllr Alan Finch, said: “I felt extremely privileged to be part of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s official office opening. The headquarters are in a great building and situated in a very prominent location, so I hope the new offices will help attract further interest and donations from the local community.”

MAAC chief executive, Hanna Sebright, added: “We were delighted councillor Finch was present at our official office opening. The fact that we’ve invested in new facilities highlights just how far we’ve come in our 22 year history. The charity has grown from strength to strength, which wouldn’t have been achievable without the on going commitment and donations from the local communities we serve.”

Among the guests at the ceremony was nine-year-old Sam Aston who was flown to hospital by Midlands Air Ambulance following a road traffic collision near his home in Saltwells in August last year.

Sam suffered a badly broken leg, with six breaks and an open fracture and was airlifted Sam to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he spent 12 days in recovery.

His mum, Jo Aston, said of flight paramedic Tom Waters: “Tom is a massive part of Sam’s life, he still talks of his hero all the time.”