ONE year after The Northern Echo urged people to give blood to stop hospitals running dry officials say the battle has been won.

Exactly a year ago, we highlighted fears that blood supplies for the region's hospitals could be put at risk because of new safety concerns. Experts predicted that as many as 5,000 regular blood donors in the North-East and North Yorkshire would be lost because of the new restrictions.

Today we can confirm that North-Eastern and North Yorkshire blood donors have responded magnificently to our Lifeblood Appeal.

Delighted National Blood Service (NBS) officials have confirmed the anticipated slump in donors did not occur and blood stocks across the region are at a healthy level.

Experts believe the gaps in the ranks of the region's blood donors have been filled by new recruits or lapsed donors coming forward, easing the pressure on blood stocks.

Laura Summers, spokeswoman for the NBS in the North-East and Yorkshire, said: "We did a lot of work with the regional media to get this important message across and I really do think that has worked. Things are holding up well. We just would like to say thank you to all the donors who have been taking notice of the messages that we have been sending out."

New restrictions brought in to protect blood supplies did not have the major effect that we had anticipated, she said.

"Blood stocks have stayed at a good level throughout the region. It is not just accident victims who need blood. Someone with leukaemia or other forms of cancer may need literally hundreds of transfusions," said Miss Summers.

In March last year, a consultant working at the regional blood unit in Newcastle warned that the North-East faced a potential shortfall in blood supplies because of new restrictions on who could give blood.

The precautionary measures were introduced by the Government in April last year.

It meant that an estimated 5,000 donors in North-East and North Yorkshire were barred from giving any further donations because they had received transfusions since 1980.

This was due to theoretical concerns that they may have been exposed to the human form of mad cow disease. The regulations were tightened up last August when anyone unsure whether they have had a transfusion since 1980 was told they would no longer be able to give blood.

But hospitals in The Northern Echo's circulation area, which need at least 500 units a day, have not seen any fall in blood stocks.

Dr Cath Chapman, head of the regional blood centre in Barrack Road, Newcastle, said: "Our current blood stocks are healthy thanks to consistent support from our donor panel which has become smaller partly due to increased stringency in our donor selection criteria."

Dr Chapman said the NBS had a constant need to encourage continuing loyalty from existing donors and to add new donors to the panel to replace those who are being lost.

Father-of-three Mike Livermore, 42, from Newton Aycliffe, near Darlington, had a life-saving transfusion four years ago after suffering a massive haemorrhage.

He said: "What the Echo has done has definitely got people to give blood. The articles you ran highlighted the desperate need for blood and I think people have responded to that."

Last year, Mr Livermore signed up 63 new donors by running in the Great North Run. This year he is planning to do it again on behalf of the NBS.

"What I am really looking for is a couple of celebrities to run with me," said Mr Livermore.

Miss Summers appealed to donors to ensure they kept appointments in the run up to the Easter and May bank holidays as some blood products only keep for a few days and need to be replenished as soon as possible.

To find out more details about becoming a blood donor, or to find your nearest blood donor session visit www.blood.co.uk, view Ceefax BBC2 page 465, or call the helpline on 08457 711 711.

Read more about the Lifeblood campaign here.