A PETITION to stop the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) paying VAT on its fuel has accelerated to attract thousands of signatures per day.

The campaign, started by York resident and motorcyclist Ken Sharpe, broke through the 30,000 barrier on Monday as it really takes off.

“It was slow to start but on Friday last week, we had 3,000 signatures in one day.” He said he expected 5,000 more to sign yesterday.

To be debated in the House of Commons the subject needs to attract 100,000 signatures in one year.

Mr Sharpe said: “I thought 100,000 was insurmountable amount to get. But I’m hopeful we’re going to do it in the next couple of months and I expect that this week we will be halfway there.”

Mr Sharpe launched the petition following a motorcycle rally to raise money for the YAA, which needs £7,200 a day to keep its two helicopters in the air.

While the Lifeboat Service has been exempt from VAT on fuel costs since 1977, a similar privilege has not been afforded to the 20 air ambulance services that are run tin the UK and the YAA last year was charged £5,800 in VAT on the 170,000 litres of fuel it used.