THE FINAL cheque of the EX20 lottery has been presented to BBC Radio Devon's Air Ambulance Appeal.

The cheque for £2,500 was handed over to the station's breakfast presenter Matt Woodley in Okehampton on Friday week by one of the lottery's founders, town and borough councillor and chair of Devon County Council, Christine Marsh.

She said: 'Sadly the lottery is being wound up, largely because of the economy — people can't afford even a pound for something like this at the moment — and also because of factors like people moving away, dying, and a lack of my time to promote it.

'I wanted the lottery to go out on a high, rather than dwindle away to nothing.'

Over the past ten years the lottery has benefited a number of good causes across the area, including village halls at Whiddon Down, Sticklepath and Sampford Courtenay, as well as Okehampton's Battle of the Bands competition and village post offices across the EX20 postcode area.

Matt Woodley said: 'This is a fantastic contribution towards our total, which will help raise money to buy a new air ambulance for Devon.

'Somewhere like Okehampton relies heavily on the services provided by the air ambulance because of its relative remoteness, and the icy weather of the past few weeks has proved even more the value of the helicopter service.

'We've now reached over £100,000 towards our £600,000 target, and are looking forward to our Test the County on-air quiz in January, which we hope could dramatically increase our total.

'We're looking for teams to take part — office teams, pub quiz teams, or even just your friends and family.'

More information on the quiz can be found at http://www.testthecounty.co.uk">www.testthecounty.co.uk

Cllr Marsh expressed thanks to all who have backed the EX20 over the years, including lottery supervisor, Ian Bowkley, Okehampton Town Council for allowing the free use of its premises for the draw, the Times for publishing the results each week and the many newsagents, such as Ann Sanders in West Bridge, and post offices in the town and villages which sold tickets.

She added: 'This is an area of not very high wages and there is no doubt that the lottery's success over the years is down to the good will and generosity of people in Okehampton and hamlets.

'True to fashion, the final cheque will go towards helping a very worthwhile cause in the area for years to come.'