WILTSHIRE MPs are backing the county’s air ambulance service in a bid to get it compensation for the cost of the work it did during the Novichok crisis.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance says it ran up costs of around £100,000 in 2018 as it responded to the incidents following the poisoning of Russian father and daughter Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal.

But it has been unable to get any grant funding from the Government. Now after a plea to all Wiltshire MPs for backing the politicians have written to Home Secretary Priti Patel asking for her to step in and get payments for the charity.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Air Ambulance said: “We have written to our local MPs to ask for their support in securing compensation from the Government.

“The helicopter was grounded and the charity’s airbase was closed for two weeks as a precautionary measure to check for cross-contamination. There were a series of costs as a result, including pilots being unable to fly, paramedic cover costs and staff relocation.”

The air ambulance also incurred charges for medical screening, compensation for staff personal belongings and counselling in the wake of attending the incidents.

The spokesman said: “With the airbase locked down, events had to be cancelled due to the lack of access to fundraising equipment. We are very grateful to our Wiltshire MPs for taking this matter up on our behalf and await the response from the Home Secretary’s office.”

Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan said: “During the terrible and tragic Novichok incident in Salisbury Wiltshire Air Ambulance played a key role as part of the response.

“Unfortunately, they have not been able to recover the costs.

“I have worked with my fellow Wiltshire MPs to write to the Home Secretary asking for Wiltshire Air Ambulance to be properly compensated.”

In the letter they say it seems extremely unfair.