IF you see a big red blob with legs among the thousands of Great North Runners it will be Mike Livermore.

Mr Livermore, 41, from Newton Aycliffe, will be wearing a scarlet "Billy Blood Drop" costume in a bid to recruit 150 new blood donors.

The father-of-two, whose two children, Curt, 12 and Cloe, ten, will also be running in the junior event, is determined to help the National Blood Service (NBS) after a massive transfusion saved his life.

Mr Livermore needed 24 units of blood after suffering a haemorrhage three years ago.

Ironically, after giving blood for years, new rules aimed at ensuring the nation's blood supplies remain uncontaminated mean that Mr Livermore cannot donate again, because he has had a transfusion since 1980.

Because it is not a charity, the service is not allowed to raise cash but instead, runners wearing the NBS shirt will all try to recruit at least ten new donors.

However, Mr Livermore is hoping to do even better.

"There is room for 50 names in the donor recruitment book and I want to fill every blank space and the same goes for the kids," he said.

"Hopefully, we can sign up 150 new donors."

Mr Livermore is hoping that the weather will be cool for the run because the close-fitting wood and canvas outfit is hot and heavy.

However, he said: "I'm really looking forward to it and so are the kids."

"The only thing I'm worried about is having to wear red tights."

* Anyone who would like to support him by volunteering to be a donor, can ring him on (01325) 311764.

Read more about the Life Blood campaign here.