The Wiltshire Air Ambulance airbase near Melksham has been placed on lockdown as the military move in to test for traces of nerve agent.
The medical helicopter will be grounded while specialist sampling teams are able to complete their work while the airbase is closed from 5pm today, Wednesday 1 August.
Specialist teams will undertake precautionary testing of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance helicopter, the station, emergency vehicles and kit worn by responders involved in the initial response to Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “During the period that the helicopter is unable to fly, the charity’s paramedics and doctors will remain fully operational providing critical care in Wiltshire by using Rapid Response Cars. The cars have the same specialist medical equipment that is on-board the helicopter.
“It is important to again stress that the testing forms part of the wider response to the incident and is being undertaken on a precautionary basis. The advice from Public Health England has not changed since the start of this incident – the risk to the public and first responders remains low. It has, therefore, not been necessary to shut this site before.”
It is not yet clear how long Wiltshire Air Ambulance will be unable to fly.
