Brecon Mountain Railway is to hold a special fundraising weekend for Wales Air Ambulance after its new car park was recently used as a landing site during a medical emergency.

The railway will donate £1 to the charity for every passenger travelling on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25.

Passengers will also be able to make an additional donation when booking their tickets or on the day, while Wales Air Ambulance representatives will be at the railway selling merchandise and raising awareness of its work.

The fundraising idea follows the recent landing of a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter at the railway’s newly completed car park.

Stuart Williams, Brecon Mountain Railway general manager, said the landing had provided a “very real demonstration” of the importance of the service.

“The helicopter was able to land close to the scene of an emergency, providing the medical team with quick and straightforward access to the casualty when every minute mattered,” he said.

Mr Williams, who is also a Community First Responder, said he had personally attended incidents where Wales Air Ambulance crews had provided support.

“Their skills and ability to reach patients quickly are especially important in rural communities such as ours,” he said.

“We are therefore extremely pleased to support this lifesaving charity and hope that our fundraising weekend will raise both valuable funds and greater awareness of its remarkable work.”

Hugh Tamlyn, Wales Air Ambulance regional fundraising manager for the area, thanked the railway for its support.

He said the charity needs to raise £13 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

“The fundraising weekend sounds like a wonderful fundraiser,” he said.

The Wales Air Ambulance provides emergency medical care across Wales, with specialist clinicians able to provide advanced treatment at the scene of an incident.