A mother who almost died during the birth of her baby today backs an appeal by The Northern Echo to help avert a crisis at the region's blood banks.

Caroline Cleaver, 29, from Stockton, is joining the campaign as the National Blood Service (NBS) launches radical measures to cope with 50,000 UK donors being taken out of service because of fears over the human form of mad cow disease.

This week, more than 200,000 17-year-olds will receive a letter telling them that they are now old enough to give blood, marking a change of direction by the NBS.

On April 5, three per cent of all donors will be banned from giving more blood because of fears over a possible link to vCJD.

Although the risk of infection is said to be very small, everyone who has had a blood transfusion since 1980 is being barred from giving blood.

This means hospitals in the North-East and Yorkshire face a significant drop in blood supplies when the new restrictions begin.

With about 5,000 donors expected to be lost in this region, The Northern Echo's campaign is aimed at replacing them as soon as possible.

While the Government is playing down the crisis, unless new donors come forward in significant numbers, the NHS will lose thousands of units of blood every year.

Every day, hospitals in the region need about 400 units of blood (a unit is just under half-a-pint and is the equivalent of a single blood donation).

In one area alone, County Durham, 170 donations are needed every day.

Without plentiful blood supplies to our hospitals, lives could be placed in danger, especially if there is a major disaster such as the Selby rail crash.

That is why The Northern Echo is asking every healthy person between 17 and 60 to give blood.

Mrs Cleaver is supporting the campaign after she suffered severe haemorrhaging during the birth of her first baby, Matthew, last July.

She needed 15 units of donated blood to buy her time while surgeons at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough fought to save her life.

"Everyone always assumes there will be blood there for them if they really need it," said Mrs Cleaver.

"But unless people give blood it won't always be there for them."

Mrs Cleaver added: "Without the blood I wouldn't be here, it is as simple as that."

The National Blood Service is supported by celebrities such as Lady Heather Mills McCartney, who needed blood after losing a leg in an accident, and Gary Lineker, whose baby son George had repeated transfusions during a leukaemia scare.

Our appeal has been backed by legendary middle distance runner and North-East sporting hero Steve Cram.

Steve said: "Giving blood is one of most important things any of us can do. Please support The Northern Echo's campaign to increase blood donation in the North-East and help the National Blood Service save lives."

According to veteran blood donor Joe Porter, who has clocked up 77 blood donor sessions, no one should have any fears about giving blood.

"In the old days, it wasn't as painless as it is now," he said. "These days they give you a local anaesthetic and you don't feel a thing."

Mr Porter, 65, a retired animal feed salesman from Winston, between Darlington and Barnard Castle, has been giving blood since 1960.

"I just felt it was a small token to help your fellow man," he said.

* For more information on giving blood, contact the National Blood Service helpine on 0845 7 711 711, or go to www.blood.co.uk. Donor sessions are held throughout the region every day.