WEST Yorkshire Ambulance Service has pledged to support a group raising funds to improve health care in Pakistan.

The West Yorkshire-based Al-Falah Welfare Trust is trying to get charitable status to boost its profile and is fundraising for the Gujrat district of Pakistan.

The county's ambulance service has helped the trust for the past two years and has already donated an ambulance which is being used for hospital transfers in Pakistan.

Ambulance Service general manager for accident and emergency Rick Bruce is the trust's secretary and trustee.

Trust chairman Mohammed Iqbal said: "We've been fundraising for the people of Puran in Gujrat for four years and the money has helped to construct the Al-Falah Hospital in the village.

"Before it was built, the nearest medical care for the region's 40,000 residents was some 25 miles away and with no formal ambulance service, getting to hospital proved difficult for those needing care.

Mr Bruce said:

"We'd like to expand those facilities further to include a small operating theatre, minor surgery, child delivery and eye surgery as well as improving health information."

Anyone wanting to support the Al-Falah Welfare Trust can contact its treasurer, Jarair Malik, on 01274 544432.