A Cornish recruitment agency is helping Cornwall Air Ambulance to make the most of its 20th anniversary celebrations, by sponsoring a new promotional vehicle for the charity.

The Transit Connect van, emblazoned with pictures of the lifesaving helicopter in action, will quickly become a familiar sight on Cornwall's roads as it travels between fundraising events the length and breadth of the county.

Jobline Staffing - a service of Cornwall Enterprise - has offered sponsorship for at least the next five years, building upon a two-year business relationship as the Air Ambulance Trust's preferred supplier of temporary staff, which saw the agency donate a temporary administrator for a week last year to mark its own birthday.

Air ambulance trustee LaVerne Caddy said: "The high-calibre staff supplied by Jobline Staffing have been invaluable over the last two years, and we are delighted they have now decided to expand that relationship by sponsoring our new van.

"This valuable contribution means we have been able to buy the vehicle outright, rather than leasing it, which is far more cost-effective, helping us to focus on the main job; keeping the Air Ambulance operational.

"We fly over a thousand missions every year, and the ongoing support of the Cornish public is absolutely crucial to keep this essential service going. The new promotional van will therefore be absolutely invaluable, keeping the Air Ambulance at the forefront of people's minds as it goes about its duties throughout Cornwall."

Emma-Jane Cooney, manager of Jobline Staffing, added: "Like all Cornwall Enterprise services, Jobline Staffing is here to make a real difference to local people and businesses. Having grown to provide several hundred temps each day, we're delighted to be in a position where we can now give something extra back to the County.

"After 20 years, and countless lives saved, it would be unthinkable for Cornwall not to have an Air Ambulance, so the Trust's fundraising work is absolutely crucial. We have a longstanding relationship and this seemed like a great way to get involved."

Cornwall's Air Ambulance was the first in the UK when it was launched in 1987, and has been funded without Government assistance ever since. The Jobline Staffing-sponsored van will have an especially busy time in the coming months, as hundreds of groups organise events to mark the 20th anniversary, and raise funds towards the service's £1.25 million running costs.

To mark the occasion, the Air Ambulance itself has been given a new look livery, with striking yellow flashes added to the nose, tail and cowling.

Both the restyled helicopter and the brand new promotional van are already in use, and will be on public display at the Royal Cornwall Show in June.