THERE is so much we take for granted in life. For example, if we - or our loved ones - needed blood, we would expect it to be provided. It would never occur to us that there might not be any available.

But what if the 1.7 million regular blood donors in this country decided not to bother - what would we do then?

The recent announcement that more than 50,000 donors have to be removed from the National Blood Service register because of a possible link to the human form of BSE is a wake-up call.

It means that they have to be replaced by new people willing to give up a small amount of their time for the good of others.

That is why The Northern Echo today calls on its readers to ask themselves a simple question: "Do I give blood?"

If the answer is 'no' we urge you to become a donor and help those who will be lost to the service from April 5.

Think of Caroline Cleaver, whose story is told today. It is a story with a heart-warming ending, but it might have been very different had it not been for blood donors.

Caroline, from Stockton, needed 15 units of blood after suffering severe haemorrhaging during the birth of her son Matthew last summer.

"Without the blood, I wouldn't be here, it is as simple as that," said Caroline. "It means that the time that I now have with my son is really precious."

Imagine if Matthew had come into the world only to lose his mother immediately. Imagine the sadness which would have replaced the happy pictures of Caroline and her baby in today's paper.

Then arrange to give blood at the next available opportunity.