THE National Blood Service is appealing for people in Wiltshire to give blood over the Bank Holiday period to ensure stocks stay healthy.

The service needs to collect 9,000 units of blood in England and North Wales every day and it is vital that people keep giving during the holiday period to ensure hospital patients get the life saving treatments they need.

Blood donor sessions are taking place at the town hall in The Strand, Calne, on Sunday from 9am to 1.15pm and at Westbury Labour Club, Haynes Road, Westbury, on Tuesday from 1.30pm to 3.15pm and from 5pm to 7.15pm.

Rachel Yandell, spokeswoman for the service, said: "The demand for blood never stops and we have to collect blood on a daily basis to meet hospitals' needs.

"Bank holidays can cause us difficulties because people often go away or spend time with family and friends which might mean they miss their regular session over the bank holiday period.

"We are therefore urging donors not to miss their session during this period and encouraging new donors to come forward at this important time.

"Sessions are generally quieter over the summer so it is a good time for new donors to come and donate."

Blood does not have a long shelf life 35 days for red cells and five days for platelets.

There are 1.9million blood donors on the register, donating more than 2.4million pints of blood each year, but this is only six per cent of the eligible population.

The service loses 15 per cent of donors each year through retirement, relocation and ill health so it is essential that new donors come along to their local sessions.

To become a blood donor people need to be aged 17-60, weigh over seven stones 11 pounds and be in good health.

Anyone interested in becoming a blood donor can contact the Donor Helpline on 0845 7711 711 which is open 24 hours a day.

Alternatively, blood donor session details can be found on the National Blood Service website at www.blood.co.uk or on Ceefax on BBC2 page 465.