A Ben Rhydding man has given a girl he has never met the chance to live after undergoing a two-hour bone marrow operation.

Honorary President of Ilkley Round Table, Geoff Botting, 46, has now decided to go public about the operation - which took place in October - in a bid to encourage others to donate bone marrow.

The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust asked Mr Botting to undergo the operation after finding a blood sample he gave ten years ago was a match for the girl, who was suffering from aplastic anaemia.

During the operation, Mr Botting, of Ben Rhydding, was put under general anaesthetic, and had a syringe inserted between his back and hip joint, to draw out the valuable bone marrow.

The syringe was inserted into his back six times in the operation, and it took a fortnight for him to recover. The bone marrow was immediately rushed to another hospital to give the young recipient a last chance of life.

Mr Botting, who has two daughters of his own, said: "I was a little bit nervous, as it was something had never done before. I haven't been in an operation since I was eight, and it was down in London, far away from home."

He gave a blood sample to the Anthony Nolan Trust during a campaign ten years ago, along with other members of Ilkley Round Table. The trust keeps a national register of blood samples from potential donors.

He retired from the Round Table several years ago, but was invited back as honorary president.

But Mr Botting was surprised when the Trust contacted him in August to say they had found a match, and carefully discussed the risks with his family before making the decision to go ahead with the operation.

"I was very surprised to hear from the Trust, and to be honest did not think that the operation would go ahead until the week before," he said.

The Trust will send six-monthly updates on the health of the young girl who received the bone marrow. She has not been named, and he will not be given the chance to meet her for two years.

Now Mr Botting wants others to volunteer to give blood samples and have their names added to the register of potential donors. He feels many people are put off by the idea of having an operation. "Although I was little sore and tired, it was nowhere as difficult or as painful as I had thought. I was just pleased to be able to help," said Mr Botting.

Anyone who wants to become a potential donor, or wants to hold a fundraising event for the Trust, can contact Vanessa Hemingway on 01226 245266.