A team of former air ambulance fund-raisers have reunited to support a new cause.

The group, who used to raise cash for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, are now involved with Blood Bikes Cumbria.

The aim of the charity is to help transport blood to people who need it on motorbikes and help take pressure off the National Health Service. 

Jan Hawkins, funding co-ordinator, revealed why they are hitting the road instead of the skies. 

She said: "When I hit 70, no other fund-raising took my fancy. But then my husband was extremely ill and needed 22 pints of blood in three weeks. 

"I became aware it was coming out at times like 2am and 11pm. I heard it was coming by blood bike and I said that I would like to give something back."

At first volunteers used their own bikes and paid for the fuel to make deliveries, but the charity has received various grants to help pay for a bike of its own. 

Blood Bikes Cumbria only recently celebrated its first anniversary, but similar services have been running in other parts of the country since 1962. 

And by going to patients themselves, they are also helping to save lives and are also able to transfer blood to and from hospitals.

Jan added: "It's been fantastic for the riders to give up their time and some of them are on call. They are brilliant, but we need more volunteers for the bikes."

As well as saving the health service money, the bikes are also able to get through traffic more easily than cars and have fresh blood supplies.

Alan Bragg, treasurer for the charity, said: "It's been exceptionally successful. We want to keep the service going and help the NHS. Anything we can do to help them save money we'll do it. 

"The bikes carry blood on board and it makes sure they get fresh blood. In 365 days last year we never missed a day. We now have a fleet of delivery bikes and all the riders are advanced riders."

For more information visit www.bbcumbria.org