BLOOD donors in Bury had a treat in store when they were invited to a special night out as a thank you for saving so many lives.

David Tootill (40), Carole Wilson (42) and Susan Duffy (65), all from Bury, regularly donate blood and were invited along to the Filmworks in Manchester by the National Blood Service to meet some sporting heroes, including cyclist Jon Norfolk, and enjoy a special screening of It's a Wonderful Life.

The trio were also joined by Prestwich swimmer Adrian Turner, whose life was saved through blood donations when his body began rejecting his own blood and he needed transfusions.

Adrian, a former Parrenthorn High School pupil, thanked the audience for their donations: "Thanks to blood donors, I was able to compete at the Commonwealth Games and swim for Britain at the Athens Olympics.

"But, aside from my sporting achievements, on behalf of my whole family, thank-you for taking this time to give blood and helping save someone like me,' he said.

The next blood donor session in Bury will be on New Year's Eve at the Bethesda Church, Parkhills Road, between 10am and 12.30pm.

For more information on becoming a blood donor, call 0845 771 1711 or visit www.blood.co.uk.