Only 6% of the eligible population give blood

Christopher Hodgett, of Bridgwater, has given 75 donations to the National Blood Service - only 3% of donors reach this total.

Mr Hodgett started giving blood whilst working for Rolls Royce in 1964.

The 77 units he has given over the years are estimated to have helped save the lives of up to 231 people.

'Generosity'

Mr Hodgett said he hopes to help save more lives in the future.

Rachel Yandell, from the National Blood Service, said: "Mr Hodgett's dedication is outstanding and I would like to thank him on behalf of the people whose lives have been saved by his generosity.

"He has repeatedly gone out of his way to give blood and even registered as a bone marrow donor."

The service supplies blood to 310 hospitals across England and North Wales and has 1.9 million donors on its register who donate over 2.4 million pints of blood a year.

Only 6% of the eligible population currently give blood.