Dean's garden centres, based in York and Scarborough, have raised £26,000 to support the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Staff at the family-run business chose the air ambulance as its charity of the year for 2017, and undertook a range of events and fundraisers.

Events throughout the year included festive days, bake sales, tombolas, second-hand book stalls as well as Yellow Yorkshire - the service's own themed fundraising day.

The company's charity co-ordinator, Laura Dean, said: "Dean's is proud of its roots in the community and we think it is important to support local charities.

"Every year since 2002, staff have nominated a charity of the year, and we have so far raised more than £265,000 for a range of good causes.

"We worked very closely with Yorkshire Air Ambulance and there was a lot of support for a charity that anyone could need at any time."

Dean's garden centre staff visited the rapid response emergency charity's air support unit at Nostell Priory to hand over their cheque and meet helicopter paramedics and crew.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance spokesperson David Hebden said: "We cannot thank Dean's garden centre enough for their hard work and tremendous effort.

"This is an outstanding donation that we are truly grateful for."

As an independent charity, the rapid response team rely on donations and fundraising to raise the £4.4m per year needed to keep their air ambulances in the air and maintained.

Find out more at www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk.