HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope may have helped save someone's life - by taking time out from Parliamentary duties to give blood.

Mr Pope attended the blood donor session at the New Era Centre, Paradise Street, Accrington, as one of 60 MPs nationwide who are backing a campaign to encourage blood donation.

A total of 1,300 people need to give blood every day in the North West to keep the area's hospital supplied with blood and blood products.

This year, 40,000 new donors will have to be found to meet demand from hospitals. Blood only has a shelf-life of 35 days so it cannot be stockpiled to help during shortages.

Mr Pope said: "I am delighted to be able to support this campaign. Giving blood is really easy and can help to save lives.

"Winter is a particularly difficult period for blood supplies so I would urge people to give the gift of life to others and contact the National Blood Service who hold regular donor sessions locally."

Donors are being asked to bring a friend with them when they donate to boost supplies.

And for the first time, 17-year-olds are eligible to give blood.

Sue Cunningham, national PR and donor services manager for the National Blood Service, said: "We are extremely grateful to all the MPs who have given up their time to help our campaign.

"Giving blood can easily be included in someone's normal routine. Just a couple of hours a year can help to save lives."

Details of where to give blood can be obtained by telephoning 0345 711711.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.