PEOPLE are being asked to take time out from their festive preparations and help save a life.

The National Blood Service is asking people in Yorkshire to spare just an hour in December to give blood.

In Yorkshire alone, 500 donations of blood are needed every day to meet demand. Every one of them helps to save or improve a patient's life, whether it's someone suffering from a serious blood disorder, such as leukaemia, a person undergoing surgery or an accident and emergency case.

Laura Summers, a service spokeswoman, said: "Blood donors are very important during the winter, particularly leading up to Christmas, when blood stocks traditionally can fall 10%.

"It is vital that donors keep coming forward, to make all the difference to patients who need blood."

New donors are needed throughout the country.

People aged between 17 and 60 years of age - 17 to 70 for regular donors - in general good health and weighing over 50kg can support the campaign.

Just call the National Donor Helpline on 08457 711 711 (open 24 hours) to find out where you can give blood or log on to www.blood.co.uk

* Only 6% of the eligible population are active blood donors

* People can give three times a year

* There are four main blood groups - O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common, and therefore the most in demand.

* The NBS also runs the British Bone Marrow Register. The register recruits, tests and registers blood donors who volunteer to become bone marrow donors.