Dennis Marsh, one of the strongest supporters of the under-threat Wiltshire Air Ambulance, is rallying troops to prepare for the worst.

The 62-year-old farmer is chairman of Castle Combe Steam Rally Committee, which has raised money for the service for more than ten years.

Each year the organisation hands over money raised at its two day summer steam event. It raised more than £5,000 last year and has donated nearly £30,000 over the years.

The father-of-two, who organised the rally from his home in Nettleton and will continue his involvement even though he has moved out of Wiltshire, said: "People will suffer if the air ambulance base is relocated to Bristol.

"At the moment it can reach anyone in the county within eight minutes of receiving the call but response times are bound to go down if it is moved.

"We may have to increase our fundraising activity and get more people involved this year if the fears over the future of the service materialise." The seven-strong committee decided to offer financial support to the air ambulance because they felt it was a vital service for Wiltshire.

Mr Marsh said: "Most of us have lived in Wiltshire and have seen the helicopter flying around. We knew it needed money to keep it flying so we decided to help out.

"We did not raise much at first but over the years we have given them more and more and got to know the people involved.

"The response time is very good at the moment but if they are given a bigger area to cover it is the people in most need of it who will suffer in emergency situations.

"The air ambulance has saved the lives of countless numbers of people and it would be terrible if the service is undermined."

Mr Marsh is angry that the proposals for the service have not been made public.

A meeting of the Great Western Ambulance Trust, held last week, was believed to have been discussing the relocation and the downgrading of the operation to daytime only.

Melanie Chiswell, head of communications at the Great Western Ambulance Trust refused to discuss the outcome of the meeting.

She said: "The review of the air ambulance is still ongoing and no conclusion has been reached. At present we do not know when the results will be ready for the public."