HAMPSHIRE'S air ambulance charity is renewing an appeal for unwanted clothes to help save lives.

The call comes as the vital work of the flying paramedics was highlighted by the dramatic rescue of Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, who was involved in a 300mph dragster crash.

The speed with which he was airlifted to hospital in Leeds has been credited with helping his remarkable recovery.

Now the Hampshire air ambulance charity wants to plough the income from a recycling scheme into getting its own helicopter in the air.

After working closely with council recycling teams, supermarkets, and pubs, about 30 clothing and shoe recycling banks bearing the air ambulance logo have been rolled out across the county.

Cash raised from selling on the clothes or recycling them for use in other products will go towards the £65,000 needed each month to run a life-saving air ambulance service.

The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity is hoping to have an operational helicopter airborne within sixth months.

It will fly about three missions a day, many of them life saving.

The aircraft will be able to reach anywhere within the county within 12 minutes.

The Leeds based company behind the scheme, Tradehouse, has already raised £35,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance by launching a similar scheme in May last year.

The Yorkshire service came to the rescue of Mr Hammond.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight AA operations director Nicola Howkins said it made sense to follow suit and appealed to residents to get on board.

"Hampshire and the Isle of Wight needs and deserves the very best air ambulance service possible," she said.

To find your nearest bank please visit www.haarecycle.com.