THE Wales Air Ambulance is celebrating 20 years in the skies.

The charity was established as a one helicopter service on March 1, 2001 and has since grown to a four helicopter operation and today is regarded as one of the most medically advanced services in Europe.

The service is also 24/7 thanks to the ongoing support of the Welsh public.

A spokesman thanked the public for their support.

He said: "As of 12am this morning, we have attended 38,187 missions across Wales since our launch in 2001

"Over the past five years we have attended 1,367 missions across Powys."