NEW blood donors across the Bradford district are being encouraged to give the gift of life to keep up a good stock flow.

Even though stocks in the district are good, more donors are needed to make sure the right nix of blood is always available when needed.

Donors are particularly needed from black and Asian communities, as well as those who are A negative and B negative.

Amanda Eccles, senior marketing co-ordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Blood stocks are currently good, but it is vital that new donors in Bradford continue to register and make their first appointments to give blood to replace those who are unable to do so any more."

People who are O negative are also in demand because that rare blood group can be given to people of any blood type in an emergency.

Blood is a vital life line needed for a variety of life-saving procedures such as during or after childbirth or treating patients with blood disorders, like sickle cell anaemia which require regular transfusions, said Ms Eccles.

She added: “It is also important that donors who are unable to keep their booked appointment please cancel them as soon as possible so we can re-allocate the slot to someone else.”

About 1.7 million units of blood is collected each year from more than 23,000 blood donation sessions in more than 3,000 venues despite less than three per cent of people in England and North Wales aged 17-70 having donated blood in the last 12 months.

Anyone wanting to donate for the first time needs to be aged between 17 and 66.

To register and book an appointment, potential donors should ring 0300 123 23 23 or go to blood.co.uk to find out more.

Blood giving sessions coming up in the Bradford district include Monday, April 11, at St Peter's Church, Moorhead Lane, Shipley, from 2.40pm to 4pm and from 3.45pm to 6.25pm and at Skipton Town Hall from 2pm to 4pm and 5pm to 7.25pm.

Victoria Hall in Keighley will be the venue for donors on Friday, April 15, from 12.45pm to 2.25pm then 3.45pm to 6.26pm.

On Tuesday, April 19, sessions will take place at the Campanile Hotel in the Euroway Industrial Estate from 2.15pm to 3.45pm and 4.45pm until 7.30pm.