Four people from Herefordshire have been honoured for the amount of blood they have given to save other people’s lives.

Two of them have donated blood 100 times.

All of them were presented with a special crystal plate at an awards ceremony by the National Blood Service at the Chateau Impney in Droitwich.

George Hicks, from Westhide, has given blood 101 times over 52 years and said: “Just knowing it was going to help someone kept me going all these years.”

Also hitting the 100-mark was Patrick Davis from Hereford who started donating in 1966.

Both Tony Kelk from Fownhope and Sheila Bell from Little Dewchurch have been giving blood for 42 years and 52 years respectively on 75 occasions.

The crystal plates were presented by Terry Dagley, from Droitwich, who suffers from a rare condition that relies on regular transfusions to keep him well.

Pam Prescott, of the National Blood Service, said: “All our donors are special but it is a pleasure to thank our dedicated donors this way.

“They continue to make time to donate, come rain or shine and really are the lifeblood of our service.”

All four Herefordshire donors plan to continue giving blood.

Call 08457 711711 or visit the website blood.co.uk to become a donor.