'Top Gear' chopper donations soar

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Funding for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity has more than doubled in the last year, according to officials.

The team shot into the spotlight after saving the life of Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond when a jet car he was driving crashed at Elvington airfield.

Figures for the charity show their income has risen from just over £1.5m in 2006 to £3.5m in 2007.

Income from legacies rose almost ten-fold from £140,553 in 2006 to £1.38m in 2007.

In the charity's annual report, chief executive Martin Eede said: "Overall 2006 was a year we started to deliver the type of service the people of Yorkshire have a right to expect.

"We are not the finished article yet and know that we have a long way to go, but at least the journey has begun."

Flipped over

Mr Eede took early retirement in September 2007.

Top Gear star Hammond suffered brain injuries in a crash during filming at the airfield near York in September 2006.

Nicknamed the Hamster by Top Gear colleagues James May and Jeremy Clarkson, he was filming for the BBC2 show when the 370mph jet-powered Vampire dragster he was driving veered off the runway, flipped over several times and crashed on to grass.

He had to be airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary where he stayed for five weeks.

After the crash Top Gear fans donated thousands of pounds to help fund a new helicopter for Yorkshire's Air Ambulance service.