Emergency medicial technician, Dorian James, has been celebrating this week after being chosen to work on the new air ambulance which will be launched in Wales in the spring.

Twenty-eight-year-old Dorian, who is based at Tenby Ambulance Station, was one of more than 70 staff to apply for a position with the ambulance helicopter.

After a lengthy selection process, he made a shortlist of 16, who were then invited to take part in two days of vigorous interviews and tests which were held at the Glamorgan Health and Racquet Club in Llandarcy.

After enduring bleep tests, team building exercises and presentations, 10 staff - seven paramedics and three emergency medical technicians - were offered a place on the unique project which will bring the first ever air ambulance to Wales.

The 10 staff, who come from across Wales, will now undertake two weeks training from February 12 at Fairwood Airport in Swansea, which is where the air ambulance will be based.

The course will be based on aero-medical care and aero-nautical abilities, such as navigation, flight observation, refuelling procedures and safety around the aircraft.

Dorian, who has been based in Tenby for the past five years, will, like the other crew members, only be working on the air ambulance one week in every five, because of the stress factor, and in between he will return to his duties in Tenby.

"I am very much looking forward to the next stage of the training and it will be good when we get to start flying," said Dorian, who lives in Llanreath, Pembroke Dock, with his wife Debbie, a midwife at Withybush Hospital.

"I am delighted to have been chosen, especially as I have always been interested in aero-medical work."

Wales is one of the few countries in Europe not to be served by an air ambulance.

However, thanks to sponsorship from the AA and the National Association of Air Ambulance Services, a helicopter has been secured for use.

But this vital service which enables faster delivery of paramedic care will receive no NHS funding, instead the service is relying on public donations to ensure it gets off the ground and donations can be made by contacting the Welsh Ambulance Appeal on (01792) 552999 or at any Barclays Bank across Wales quoting 'Welsh Air Ambulance Appeal'.