Jimmy Savile helps launch 'Jumbulance'

Travel charity ACROSS dedicated the 13-metre long ambulance to the memory of Pope John Paul II at a ceremony outside Edinburgh's St. Mary's Cathedral yesterday. It will leave this week to take its first group of pilgrims to Lourdes for Easter.

ACROSS chairman Dr Alan Green said, "We also hope it will enable us to provide a holiday and day trip service."

It is the first completely new, redesigned giant ambulance to be commissioned for a British charity in ten years. It cost 375,000 and took 18 months to design, manufacture and fully equip, all paid for by donations.