A BLOOD donor from Westcliff is urging others to help boost supplies of the red stuff to help seriously ill patients.

Nick Lewis, 64, frequently travels to the National Blood Service's donor centre in Brentwood to give blood, and helps even more by giving his platelets.

Platelets, tiny fragments of cells made in the bone marrow, are donated in small quantities each time a donor gives blood, but specialised donors can also give their platelets using a special machine.

Some very ill patients require platelet transfusions from a few closely matched donors. If this is the case, then these platelets can only be collected using cell separator machines.

Mr Lewis said: "I'm delighted I have been able to help so much. It is part of my routine really. I try and get down there as often as I can and hardly miss a donation - I try to do as much as I can.

"I started giving platelets at University College Hospital, where children next-door were receiving platelets. You don't need any more motivation to keep giving than that."

The donation suite in Brentwood has collected a staggering 6,500 donations in the past 12 months.

Area donor services manager, Alan Wakeman, said: "During the past 12 months we have exceeded our collection target.

"This will be a real challenge for the team, but I know with the help of our loyal donors that we can do it. I have really committed staff who work tirelessly to ensure all our donors have the best possible experience."

To find out more about donating or to arrange a platelet count test, call the Brentwood donor centre, in Crescent Drive, on 01277 306000.