MASTER chef John McGeever, of Brown's Hotel in Tavistock, last week presented Devon Air Ambulance with a superb boost to its summer fundraising programme.

The chef won top accolades in the recent national competition to find the best roast beef in England — and donated his winnings of £250 to the charity.

John, one of the super chefs lined up to take part in this summer's Tavistock Food Festival, said: 'Living in Devon, I think the air ambulance is very important to this area. It's a wonderful service and I think it's amazing what they do, so I was very pleased to be able to give them my prize.'

Gina Brook, who accepted the cheque on behalf of Devon Air Ambulance, was delighted with the boost.

She said it costs hundreds of pounds every day of every week of every year to keep the vital service in the air — and with plans afoot to buy a new helicopter soon, support and sponsorship from the community was vital.