Three dogs who took part in canine blood transfusions are being used to encourage humans to give blood.

Bonny, a labrador, and Blue, a border collie, who have both given blood to other dogs, joined Charlie, a Highland terrier, to meet visitors at Kidsgrove Town Hall, Staffordshire.

Charlie's life was saved by a transfusion from Bonny during a recent operation to remove his spleen.

Every year the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), one of the UK's largest animal charities, pays for sick dogs to have transfusions.

Cancer sufferers

Sain Pardo, a vet at the Beechwood Veterinary Clinic in Kidsgrove where Charlie was treated, said: "There is nothing more rewarding than seeing one of our patients who has been really poorly getting back to their usual self after receiving blood."

The National Blood Service hopes the visit from the dogs will draw attention to the need for people to give blood to save the lives of other people.

Hospitals in the West Midlands need 1,000 units of blood a day to treat patients including cancer sufferers and those injured in car crashes.

But less than 5% of suitable donors in the region give blood.