BLOOD donors across the region have responded well to a call for support to avert a potential crisis in the service.

The Northern Echo has launched an appeal to persuade more people to come forward and give blood to offset the loss of donors because of fears over the human form of mad cow disease.

Yesterday, at a session in Darlington, nurses were kept busy all afternoon as people queued for more than an hour to make a donation.

A total of 162 people went through the doors of St Cuthbert's Church hall in five hours.

Richard Charrington, national collection plans manager for the National Blood Service, was at the session and said The Northern Echo's campaign had helped boost numbers.

"It's been very very busy and I think that's a lot to do with the campaign because we've had a lot of new donors," he said.

"I was speaking to some of them and had a lot of comments about from people saying they were there because they had read about it in the newspaper."

From Monday, three per cent of all donors - everyone who has had a blood transfusion since 1980 - will be unable to donate due to a possible link to vCJD.

The move means that about 5,000 donors will be lost in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Mr Charrington said it was too early to say how it would affect the service, but added: "We always need donors and more than ever now.

"It's important because it saves lives - it's as simple as that. There can be no better feeling in the world than saving someone's life."

Hospitals in the region need 400 units of blood every day and officials are hoping to see a dramatic influx of donors.

Mr Charrington was in Darlington to see a new appointments system in operation.

For more information on giving blood, contact the National Blood Service helpine on 0845 7711711, or go to www.blood.co.uk. Donor sessions are held throughout the region every day.