A SELFLESS donor has been handed an awarded for giving 75 pints of blood.

For the past three decades, Ian Smallbone has been donating blood to the NHS.

He was inspired to start giving after his grandmother - Daisy Wright - was diagnosed with leukaemia and needed a blood transfusion.

Awards were handed out to Mr Smallbone and other blood donation veterans by the NHS.

Mr Smallbone, who lives in Hampton with his wife Betty, said: "I started in 1984, so it's taken 30 years to get to 75 pints.

"My nan had leukaemia and had to have blood so that gave me the inspiration to give blood myself."

Evesham Tesco employee Mr Smallbone gives blood three of four times a year on average and has no intention to stop donating.

He said he would "like to get to 100 pints if I can", but it could take him another decade of donating to reach that figure.

Mr Smallbone, 58, praised the welcoming nurses and staff who he has got to know over the years.

"They're all very good - I've got to know some of them very well, depending on shifts and who's around.

"I would encourage other people to donate, it's a good thing and everybody depends on blood at some time.

"Some people just pop in once, you don't have to keep going.

"But I know if I can keep helping people then I'll continue to do it.

"It was nice to see everybody happy and be recognised for something like this.

"When I was handed the award I was very proud and thought about how many people I have helped."

The presentation evening was held at Chateau Impney in Droitwich last week.

To sign up to give blood, visit http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/ or call 0300 123 23 23 for more details.