Dedicated blood donors have received a huge vote of thanks.

A campaign was started by the National Blood Service in December as a bigger-than-usual demand during autumn, combined with an annual drop in donations over the festive season, meant more new donors were needed.

Statistics show hospitals in Bradford need 60 units of blood a day to help treat ill patients and hospitals in Yorkshire use about 800 units every day - every one given by a volunteer.

In Bradford over Christmas and New Year, 1,536 donors came forward to support the campaign, 92 of which were new donors. And in Yorkshire as a whole 8,500 came forward to donate blood.

Donors in Yorkshire also helped the National Blood Service respond to 22 emergency calls for blood over the festive period.

The blood will have potentially saved the lives of 13,500 patients and allowed many hospitalised patients home for Christmas. Vicki Hutchinson, of the National Blood Service, said "Our thanks go to everyone in Bradford, both new and regular blood donors, for the fantastic way they responded to our appeal.

"You will all have helped to make a real difference to someone's life during Christmas 2006."

However, she said demand for blood was still great. "We are still below what we would call a comfortable stock level," she said.

"So even if you didn't make it before Christmas, please remember that we always need new people to come forward. How about making it a New Year's resolution for 2007?

"Every single donation helps to save or improve the life of a hospital patient."

To be a blood donor you need to be between 17 and 60-years-old, weigh more than 7st 12lbs and in general good health.

For information call the helpline on 0845 7 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk e-mail: claire.lomax @bradford.newsquest.co.uk