BLOOD donor sessions in Craven Arms will give people in the area a chance to save a life.

While many people think that blood is used mainly in accident and emergency situations, donated blood is vital for a wide variety of life-saving procedures. Blood transfusions can help to treat people with cancer, various types of anaemia and other long term illnesses as well as maternity care.

Every blood donation is vital, but NHS Blood and Transplant particularly needs to ensure supplies of the universal blood group O Rh Negative which is often in short supply as demand is so great.

The organisation also needs to ensure supplies of the rarer blood groups A Rh Negative, B Rh Negative, and AB Rh Negative as these are also vulnerable to shortfall.

In general, as long as people are fit and healthy, weigh more than seven stone 12 lbs (50kg) and are aged between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if they have given blood before) they should be able to give blood. People over 70 will need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating.

There are four sessions at the Craven Arms Community Centre at Newington Way on Tuesday, April 21 at 2pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

To book an appointment to donate visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 to find the nearest session.

It is also easy to book through mobile apps for Windows, Android and Apple devices. To download the app, search 'NHSGiveBlood' in the app store.