The Sussex Air Ambulance will now be able to respond to emergency calls at night following a new partnership announced today.

The air ambulance, which is not equipped to fly at night, has teamed up with Sussex Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service to cover any life-threatening incidents occurring in the dark across Sussex and neighbouring counties Surrey and Kent from April 1.

The charity will use a Sussex Police helicopter which is already fitted with night flying equipment with a paramedic onboard funded by the NHS.

Air ambulance bosses have committed £250,000 towards the new service and say if it is successful they may also put a night doctor onboard to save even more lives.

David Philpott, chief executive of the Sussex Air Ambulance, said: "This new partnership brings us a step closer to being able to offer an enhanced Helicopter Emergency Medical Service to the people of Sussex during the hours of darkness as well as during the day."

Jeremy Paine, assistant chief constable of Sussex Police, added: "As an emergency service we understand too well the difference timely medical help can make to a severely injured person. This collaboration allows us to invest further in our helicopter so it can support future police operations in Sussex, as well as providing night time air cover in a medical emergency."