An 81-year-old Northamptonshire volunteer who has helped raise more than £100,000 for The Air Ambulance Service has been named as a finalist for a BBC award.

Keith Brown has volunteered with the lifesaving charity for more than a decade and is in the running for the Volunteer award at BBC Radio Northampton’s Make a Difference Awards.

Keith was nominated in March by Andrew Partridge, community fundraising executive for Northamptonshire, in recognition of his dedication to the charity.

He was invited to BBC Radio Northampton’s studio on the pretence of being interviewed about volunteering in retirement – before being surprised with the news that he had reached the final.

Keith said: “Being part of such a great team, actually helping to save lives, I feel very humbled to have the opportunity to be involved and to do what I do.”

Andrew described Keith as an “essential part” of fundraising activities across Northamptonshire and surrounding areas.

Keith and Andrew will attend the awards ceremony on September 10, when the winner will be revealed.

The Air Ambulance Service operates Your Local Air Ambulance, providing emergency critical care across Northamptonshire and four other counties, as well as the UK-wide National Children’s Air Ambulance.