A memorial service will be held next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kent Air Ambulance crash that killed three crew members.

Pilot Graham Budden, 40, and paramedics Tony Richardson, 47, and Mark Darby, 37, died instantly when the helicopter crashed into power lines and dived into a field in Burham near Rochester airport, on July 26, 1998.

It was the only fatal accident to happen in the UK involving an air ambulance. The Civil Aviation Authority carried out an investigation into the crash but failed to identify the cause of the tragedy.

The Kent Air Ambulance Trust will be holding a tribute service for the victims’ families at Rochester Cathedral on July 25 to celebrate the lives of the crew.

KentOnline is also doing a special commemorative piece on the anniversary and would like to hear from anyone who may want to share their memories of the tragedy or pay tribute to the crew who lost their lives.Send your memories, pictures or tributes to editor.kentonline@thekmgroup.co.uk

A Trust spokesman said: “From this tragedy was born the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service of today, which has moved from strength to strength to provide first class critical care to those who need it in the county. The memorial service is intended to be up-lifting and looking to the future that we have built and continue to build in the world of pre-hospital critical care”.