The head of a life saving helicopter service has been named director of the year.

Jane Gurney, chief executive of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, was given the award in the ‘Public/Third Sector’ category by the Institute of Directors (IoD) for the East of England.

Nominations for the award were received from branches across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire, with an awards ceremony held at Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket.

Mrs Gurney said: “I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of everyone who has helped to make Essex & Herts Air Ambulance what it is today.

"Being recognised in this way is a validation of the work my team and I have put in to growing the Charity and this award will help raise the profile of the Charity and increase awareness of our life-saving work.

“It is a privilege to lead such a committed and dedicated team and to be able to share this success with them and our supporters.”

The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.

It receives no direct government funding and costs £500,000 a month to run.