THE Air Ambulance which covers emergency call-outs in Bucks is now able to operate again after being grounded as a precuation last week.

The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance was taken out of service on Thursday after a potential fault was discovered in similar models.

The EC135 helicopter is the same model that was involved in a fatal crash into a Glasgow pub last month.

Following checks from Bond Air Services over the weekend, the Air Ambulance was given the all clear to continue normal operation at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Mark McGeown, Chief Executive of the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance, said: "We fully believe that the safety of patients and air ambulance staff is the number one priority.  Obviously we are pleased to be able to resume normal operations. 

"I would like to thank our colleagues in the South Central Ambulance Service and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance for helping us maintain our emergency cover during these last few days."

Following an issue with the fuel indication system on one of their aircraft on Thursday, Bond Air Services temporarily suspended service operations to enable them to undertake further technical investigations of their fleet of EC135s - which included the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.