The North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA) is expanding its services.

The charity will now carry blood on all its vehicles, and plans to extend its night car service from two nights a week to every night.

The blood on board will allow the charity to perform crucial blood transfusions at emergency scenes.

This means that trauma victims who are losing blood will have better chances of survival.

The blood on board will allow the charity to perform crucial blood transfusions (Image: North West Air Ambulance Charity)

Andy Curran, the medical director at NWAA, said: "This advancement will make a big difference.

"It means we're now able to give blood to patients at the roadside, in their gardens, in car parks... essentially, wherever it's needed."

"As a charity we receive no government funding and need £18m each year to continue saving lives."

The charity's night car service will be open every night, allowing paramedics and doctors to provide emergency care from 6pm to 2am every day of the year.

Mr Curran added: "We anticipate that our crew will help an additional 1,000 patients per year, due to the expansion of the vital night car service.

"We want to make sure that people get enhanced pre-hospital care to improve their chances of survival."

The charity expects around 75 patients to benefit from the blood service in the first year.

The charity's night car service will be open every night (Image: North West Air Ambulance Charity) The introduction of blood on board has been made possible with help from Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, and North West Blood Bikes.

A spokesperson from Greater Manchester Blood Bikes and North West Blood Bikes said: "By delivering vital blood products to their fleet, we are helping to make emergency blood transfusions possible at the scene, giving patients a greater chance of survival."

The charity is urging the public to support their local blood banks due to a national shortage of O negative blood.

For more information about the charity and how you can help, you can visit their website.