FIREWORKS, limo rides and magicians kept youngsters spellbound at a children’s charity fancy dress ball held at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

The party-goers raised £4,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Combat Stress during an evening that saw painted faces lit up by disco glitter-balls. Half of the 400 guests were children from nearby villages and included 14-year-old Charlotte Leighton, from Tollerton, whose life was saved by the air ambulance in 2006.

Charlotte nearly died when she was hit by a car. She was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary by the air ambulance where she underwent pioneering surgery. “Dress fancy or fancy dress” was the theme of the evening and Linton’s Officer’s Mess proved the perfect setting. Organiser Jenny Mewse said: “It wasn’t until Charlotte’s accident that we realised that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance relies solely on fundraising and donations to maintain its life saving rescue service. Combat Stress is the other charity we wanted to raise money for because it specialises in the care of service personnel and veterans who have been traumatised by their involvement in campaigns since the Second World War.”