Britain's best loved actor, Sir David Jason, visited the East Anglian Air Ambulance base to take a close-up look at Anglia One, the charity's state-of-the-art helicopter.

The star of Only Fools and Horses, The Darling Buds of May and A Touch of Frost - a pilot himself - was keen to find out more about a new safety device that detects power lines.

Anglia One was the first UK helicopter to be fitted with the advanced piece of kit - thanks to a £17,000 donation from EDF Energy Networks.

The device provides crew with an aural and visual warning of the proximity of live power cables to enhance safety while flying.

He was concerned to learn the organisation had no government funding and said: "It's a real shame the air ambulance has to rely on charity and donations.

"I fly a helicopter myself and know how difficult it can be to see power cables when you come in to land - they tend to disappear into the background so this detector is a great addition."

He admitted that the charity's chopper was a lot more sophisticated than his.

EAAA executive director Simon Gray said it had been a privilege introducing Sir David to the charity and demonstrating the capabilities of Anglia One, in particular the major benefit offered by the new safety device.

EDF Energy Networks' head of customer services, Marc Coltelli, said: "This investment will help air ambulance pilots spot our power lines more easily.

"It complements our ongoing work to raise safety awareness around electricity. And we are proud to support the EAAA which provides a vital service to our customers in the region."

The EAAA operates a 365-day-a-year life-saving service across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

It receives no government or lottery funding and has to raise more than £3 million a year to keep its two air ambulances flying and provide the advanced medical equipment they carry.

For more information, or to make a donation, call 0845 066 9999 or click here.