THE Wiltshire Air Ambulance has been given a two-year stay of execution.

Fears were mounting that lives in Swindon and across Wiltshire could be at risk if the helicopter, shared by Wiltshire Police and ambulance services, was split between three counties.

Last week it was announced services could move to Bristol and the partnership between the two emergency services could come to an end.

Police air support unit officers said aircraft based in Bristol would not be able to fly at night, meaning a third of all call-outs would be cancelled, costing lives.

But now ambulance bosses have said the service will keep running for two years, based in Wiltshire, while a decision about its future is made.

They also assured the county's people that there was no risk of air ambulance services in Wiltshire being taken over by the emergency services in Avon.

Deborah Ginns, a spokeswoman for the Great Western Ambulance Service, said: "The Wiltshire Air Ambulance is not under threat.

"We are committed to providing effective air ambulance cover to the people of Wiltshire and with it, the best clinical care possible. We want to continue our relationship with the police.

"The contract for the air ambulance is in the process of being re-negotiated with the police and we are seeking a two-year extension whilst we are undertaking a review of the best clinical ways of providing services to patients.

"We would like to thank the people of Wiltshire for their support of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.

"It is a well-loved charity that has kept the Wiltshire Air Ambulance going for the last 15 years. We also support the charity and we only want to see the service get even better."

The helicopter responds to more than 1,000 emergencies every year. Three quarters are police calls and the remaining quarter are ambulance emergencies.

Wiltshire Police pays the £1.5m running costs of the helicopter service and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal, funded entirely by donations from the public, stumps up the remaining £350,000 a year.

Wiltshire Police spokesman Steve Coxhead said Wiltshire Police would not make any further comment on the situation.