There's a new chopper in town with the arrival in Redhill of a vital charity's new helicopter.

For Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance has announced the arrival of its new version of the MD902 Explorer aircraft.

The new chopper will replace the charity’s existing helicopter and be ready for night-flying in late summer.

In preparation for the charity's 24-hour operation, its specialist doctor and paramedic crew have already begun to deliver a medical service using an emergency response car through the night. Adrian Bell, chief executive of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, said: ‘We believe that there is a real and identifiable need for the skills of a specialist medical team during the night as well as through the day.” He said: “To this end, we have replaced one of our helicopters with a new version capable of night operations. “While we are waiting for the necessary regulatory processes to be completed, we have started operating by car during the hours of darkness.” Mr Bell said: “This has been a very useful exercise in helping us to prepare for a 24-hour operation, and has allowed us to learn more about the technicalities and logistics of operating at night without the incumbencies of aviation issues.”

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance has helicopters based at Redhill and Marden in Kent.

The helicopter at Marden will continue to operate during daylight hours and is expected to be replaced with a night-flying capable aircraft within the next 18 months.

The Air Ambulance service in Kent, Surrey and Sussex costs around £5 million annually to stay airborne. Receiving no funding from the National Lottery, the charity relies almost entirely upon the generosity of the public to support its two helicopters.