A barn dance held in aid of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity raised an impressive £1,000.

The event was one a series of fundraising activities by Mayor of Coleford Nick Penny who has made the air ambulance his charity funds.

Cllr Penny thanked everyone involved in organising the event including the Banshee Band from Cinderford and Bespoke Brewery in Littledean, who provided the perfect barn for a dance, along with a huge range of drinks and a hog roast. 

Tony, from the Banshee Band, was the caller for the evening giving instructions for every step of the dances and keeping everyone in order – having to remind some people of the difference between left and right.

He also ran activities to maximise the amount of money raised on the night.

Cllr Penny explained that the charity does not receive any funding from the government and on average responds to five incidents a day with each call out costing more than £2,000.

Around a third of its calls-out are to incidents in Gloucestershire.

He also thanked local organisations and companies which donated raffle prizes, including Bells Golf Club, Forest Books and Crafts, Forest of Dean Local History Society, Forestry England, Tramstop Fish and Chips, South Herefordshire Golf Club, Banshee, and Bespoke Brewery.

To donate to the mayor’s air ambulance appeal visit greatwesternairambulance.enthuse.com/cf/coleford-mayor