A YORK IT firm has given Yorkshire Air Ambulance a fundraising lift.

Catalyst IT Solutions, based in Heslington, hosted a Peaky Blinders Ball at York Racecourse and raised nearly £5,600 for the air ambulance charity.

The event attracted 300 attendees and featured dancers from the Performing Arts Course at York College, while the headline performance came from the popular party band, The Tzars.

Catalyst IT have hosted four annual fundraisers for charity and they have raised more than £20,000 in total. The first event was a James Bond themed party, celebrating 20 years since the release date of the film, Goldeneye. This event was also in aid of the air ambulance and was followed by a Masquerade Ball and a Halloween themed event, supporting St Leonard’s Hospice and Martin House respectively.

The Peaky Blinders-themed ball saw attendees donning their best 1920s attire.

Cataylst IT Solutions director, Mark Godliman, said: “There are so many deserving charities across our region and to date we have only been able to support three of them. We chose the YAA again this year because on March 23 they were called to a road traffic accident between Allerthorpe and Pocklington. Their speed and efficiency and the subsequent air transfer to Leeds General were all instrumental in saving the life of one of our closest friends.”