THE organiser of blood donor sessions in Melksham has praised volunteers for their support and is urging more people to come forward to boost stock levels.

Joan Baines said she was surprised with the high number of people attending the sessions held at Melksham House on Monday.

About 140 volunteers, aged between 17 and 70, donated blood.

Mrs Baines, 83, said: "We usually have 15 sessions a year but we didn't have one in December, so this could be part of the reason why so many people came along."

Many of the volunteers were giving blood for the first time but one man donated his 73rd pint.

Mrs Baines said: "There were quite a lot of young people who were a bit nervous because they didn't know how they were going to react.

"But after talking to some old hands they were reassured. It's important people come forward because so much blood is used. Just a simple operation can need two to three pints."

Mrs Baines, who has donated more than 80 pints, gave her first on September 3, 1939 the day the Second World War broke out.

She said: "A doctor was at Melksham Hospital testing people who were keen to give blood. War was imminent so I wanted to do what I could for the soldiers. On my way back someone called over and said war had been declared."

The next donation session is being held at Melksham House on February 2.