OKEHAMPTON branch of St John Ambulance this week launched a huge fundraising campaign to buy a new vehicle ? even though its present ambulance has covered only 16,000 miles from new.

The branch, run and organised by volunteers, is aiming to raise at least £45,000 during the next two years to try and buy a Crusader ambulance.

Secretary Judy Sanders said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the present vehicle ? other than the fact it did not comply with new regulations issued by the EU.

She said: ?It?s so galling ? we have an immaculate vehicle that?s done less than 20,000 miles, it?s basically not even run-in, but the powers-that-be say we have to get rid of it.?

Mrs Sanders said the ambulance, which was bought and paid for through the fundraising efforts of the branch and support of local people in 1992, is not even worth much as an ambulance because within two years, it will not comply with the new standards.

She said: ?The new vehicles have to have a solid bulk head and now you can?t have any access between the patient and the driver. It?s not worth trying to adapt it ? it would probably be better to keep it as a first aid post or possibly change it into a transport vehicle.?

Mrs Sanders said the ambulance was very well used and provided a service at many events in the area. It was also used as a transport vehicle ? an expanding service in connection with Westcountry Ambulance Service.

?It?s work they basically can?t cope with and they put it out to us,? said Mrs Sanders.

She said the branch is determined that Okehampton will continue to have a functioning St John Ambulance to continue its important community work.

The branch is now writing to all the larger companies in the area to ask for financial support with the fundraising campaign ? this will be followed by a maildrop to businesses in the Okehampton area.

Mrs Sanders said: ?We are only a small unit and we don?t have that many members. We do have a dozen cadets and about a dozen badgers, the five to nine year-olds, so we do have the youngsters coming through ? we would just like to leave them with an ambulance to carry on our service.?

Dot Kaines, divisional superintendent for Okehampton St John Ambulance, said: ?We were so grateful for the enormous support we had for the last appeal to purchase the ambulance ? it?s such a shame it no longer complies with the current specifications.?

Mrs Kaines said the Okehampton branch played a vital role in the community and was hoping to provide an enhanced facility in the near future with the purchase of a heart defibrillator.

She hoped individuals and groups in the area would continue to back St John Ambulance as generously with the new fundraising campaign as they had in the past.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Okehampton St John Ambulance appeal can send it to branch treasurer Mr R Harper, 55 Westcots Drive, Winkleigh EX19 8JW.