COUNTY blood donors who have helped to save the lives of more than 2,500 people have been thanked for their support by the National Blood Service (NBS).

Between them they have rolled up their sleeves to give a pint of blood 958 times.

As each blood donation can be used to treat up to three patients it means that they have potentially helped to save and improve the lives of up to 2,874 patients. At a recent awards ceremony in Droitwich, Richard Martin, of Fernhill Heath, and David Ray, of Claines, both near Worcester, were awarded the NBS Diamond Award in recognition of 100 donations each. Meanwhile, Janet Allbut, Colin Jones, Margaret Nicholls and Margaret Russ, of Worcester; Janet Finnie, of Warndon Villages, Worcester; Raymond Needham, of Bevere, near Worcester; David Walker, of St John's, Worcester; Anthony Brant, of Lower Wick, Worcester; Robert Foster, of Lower Moor, and Derek Potter, of Eckington, both near Pershore, were each presented with the NBS Emerald Award in celebration of achieving 75 donations.

Each of the donors will now take their place among an elite group of people, as less than two per cent of the 1.6 million blood donors in the country reach such a milestone donation.

Jayne Harman, the service's spokesman for West Midlands, said: "Our donors have been supporting us and saving lives unfalteringly for several decades, and we, along with all the patients whose lives they have helped to save and improve, are incredibly grateful."

You may be able to become a blood donor if you are aged between 17 and 59, weigh more than 7st 12lb (50kg) and are in good health. For details about giving blood call the NBS on 08457 711711 or visit www.blood.co.uk