FRIMLEY Park Hospital's new helicopter landing pad for air ambulances is a step nearer to being fully operational after successful flight tests.

The first aircraft to land on the new helipad was the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance, followed by Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance 24 hours later.

Kelvin Wright, consultant in emergency medicine and clinical director for the South West London and Surrey Trauma Network, has overseen development of the helipad at the hospital.

He said: "I'm just so excited to finally see air ambulances landing on our new helipad. It is the culmination of about eight year's planning and 18 months of building work.

"This is the final piece in the jigsaw of our fantastic new emergency department and day surgery extension."

For full story, see this week's Liphook Herald.