Gloucestershire-based artist Heather Gulliver is putting one of her distinctive paintings up for auction in aid of her local air ambulance charity, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).

She thinks that the air ambulance crews do an absolutely magnificent job and deserve all the support they can get.

Heather's oil-painting Pancratium Tenuifolium is worth £695 and is part of her Africa works, showing a delicate flower in harsh terrain. The painting will be up for auction for two weeks with an online raffle already open. Tickets cost £5 and all proceeds will go to Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

GWAAC provides air ambulance and critical care services to 2.1 million people across Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset. The team operate 365 days a year to bring lifesaving emergency medical care to critically ill or injured patients across the region, receiving over five call-outs a day on average.

The charity relies on the support of local communities and businesses to ensure crews are ready to respond to anyone in urgent need. It needs to raise over £4 million a year to remain operational, yet with Covid-19 seeing the cancellation of face-to-face events, GWAAC is expecting a big loss in fundraising income this year.

Vicky King, Gloucestershire community coordinator for GWAAC, said: "Our crews remain ready to save lives each and every day, yet we couldn't do that without the support of our community and people like Heather, who think of us. We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive, and we're excited to see how much this auction can raise for our lifesaving service."

Enter the auction here:www.gwaac.com/art-auction.