STAFF at a Hexham accountancy firm – on a mission to raise £10,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service – organised a Christmas gift wrapathon to help reach their target.

The team at Patricia J. Arnold and Co spent Wednesday night ensuring visitors to their base on Allendale Road had Christmas all wrapped up, in return for donations for the charity. Over £670 was raised in just one night, with further donations pledged by many who couldn’t attend.

Wine and mince pies were handed out as staff, who have already raised £4,000 and want to be able to hand over a cheque at the annual Air Angels’ fund-raising ball in June 2019, got to work.

Patricia said: “The Great North Air Ambulance Service has such a vital role to play in a rural region such as ours, quickly providing emergency medical service wherever needed.”

The effort was kick-started in May when every member of the office walked in shifts across three weekends to cover the length of Hadrian’s Wall with Miles, the GNAAS teddy bear mascot.