A jet suit for paramedics which would see patients reached in minutes by a “flying” medic has been tested by the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

After a year of talks between GNAAS and Gravity Industries, a first test flight was carried out in the Lake District.

Andy Mawson, director of operations at GNAAS, came up with the idea and described seeing it as “awesome”.

He said it meant a paramedic could “fly” to a fell top in 90 seconds rather than taking 30 minutes on foot.

Mr Mawson said: “There are dozens of patients every month within the complex but relatively small geographical footprint of the Lakes.

“We could see the need. What we didn’t know for sure is how this would work in practice. Well we’ve seen it now and it is, quite honestly, awesome.”

Mr Mawson said the exercise had demonstrated the huge potential of using jet suits to deliver critical care services.

Trainee rescue dog sent out on an exercise to find a hidden person passed his test with flying colours after finding a real group of lost people.

Scout, who still has another year of training before he becomes operational, has already managed to help a family that had gone astray.

The Woodland Mountain Rescue Team, based in the Peak District, Yorkshire, said it was very proud of the 2-year-old dog.

The team wrote on Facebook: “While out training last night the team’s trainee search dog Scout was working in woodland searching out a hidden person when he came across the scent of two unknown people who had become lost in the woodland, were without a torch and did not know how to get to safety.

“Scout immediately returned to his handler to tell him he had found some lost people.

“After indicating a find Scout then guided his handler into where the missing people were situated, returning several times to continue guiding as his handler got nearer the location.

“The pair then helped the people out of the woodland and into safety. It takes 2-3 years to train a search dog, Scout has another year of training before he can become operational, but this is exactly what he will be required to do. Well done Scout.”