IT HAS been saving lives for more than a year.

The helipad at Southampton General Hospital has been a huge success since its launch in 2011, averaging a visit a day.

Now the businesses and prominent figures that helped it come to fruition have been thanked by the County Air Ambulance Trust for helping the £1.2m helipad get off the ground.

The event was held at the mayor’s parlour in Southampton Civic Centre and in conjunction with the launch of the charity’s Helipad Heroes membership club.

The club enables people to donate a sum of money to the charity’s Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (HELP) Appeal every month.

Crystal keepsakes were presented to those who have backed the project.

They included Steve Grant, from the Grand Harbour Hotel, John Lucas, from Moxhams, Ian Woolley, from Quiz Britain, Sarah Weadon, on behalf of Paris Smith, to David Harris of One2Create, and Daily Echo Editor-in-Chief Ian Murray.

To find out more about the County Air Ambulance Trust and the Helipad Heroes membership club, log on to helpappeal.co.uk or countyairambulancetrust.co.uk.