PEOPLE are being urged to make becoming a blood donor a New Year’s resolution they can keep.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is challenging people to spare an hour of their time to give blood.

The plea comes at a time when new donors are needed after a dramatic decline in the number of younger people signing up in 2012.

NHSBT aims to recruit 100,000 new donors in 100 days to counteract the drop and protect future blood stocks.

Demand for blood is always high at the start of the year.

Donna Batty, NHSBT’s lead donor relations manager for Yorkshire and the North, said: “New Year’s resolutions have become a bit cliché over the past few years as people always set themselves up for big challenges they are unable to complete.

“Our challenge is a simple one plus we can guarantee donors a warm welcome, a hot cup of tea and a biscuit to help boost their sense of achievement not to mention the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping sick and injured people in local hospitals with each and every donation they make.”

Anyone aged 17-65, weighing more than 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health can become donors.

There is no upper age limit for donors who have given blood in the last two years.

For more information ring 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk.