Bagfuls of second-hand and even some brand new bras were handed over to the charity's Bag It Up campaign.

Soroptimist International of Halifax has been asking people to give their unwanted underwear since this year's president Irene Peaker chose the air ambulance as her charity of the year.

Soroptimist Linda Gerraghty has managed to secure matched funding from the HBOS Foundation.

And fellow members Jennifer and Caroline Pell, of Fred Wade Bookshop, have been collecting at the Rawson Street store.

Hearing about the campaign M&S in Owlcotes, Leeds, also gave 114 new bras.

As part of the Bag It Up drive, which was launched in September 2006 with the tag line What You Take Off Helps Us Take Off, the bras will be resold at affordable prices in places like west Africa where they are too expensive for average people to buy. The proceeds will go to YAA.

Miss Gerraghty said: "This is an ideal time of year to have a good cupboard clear-out and pass on any unused new or good quality used bras for this worthwhile cause to help less fortunate women worldwide."

Bag It Up campaign organiser Louise Knapton said she was extremely grateful for the huge gift.

The aim is to collect 200,000 bras across West Yorkshire which will raise at least £10,000 and pay for more than 30 life-saving missions.

If you have bras to give send them to Yorkshire Air Ambulance Campaign, Bag It Up Ltd, Calder Street, West Vale, Greetland, HX4 8AQ.

For more information contact Louise on 0800 043 43 42, e-mail infor@bagitup.org.uk or visit www.bagitup.org.uk