A SPECIAL clinic is being held in Droitwich Spa to encourage more residents to become bone marrow donors.

Droitwich Rugby Football Club is hosting a special recruitment session where townsfolk can join the Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow donation register.

The session will be held at the Hanbury Road club next Tuesday between 5 and 8pm.

By joining the register, residents can help the fight against life threatening disorders such as leukaemia, where often the only chance of a full recovery is with a bone marrow transplant.

Paul Edwards, the rugby club's junior manager, said: "Droitwich Rugby Club is proud to be offering its facilities for such a worthwhile cause. This will be the second time members of the club have answered to the trust's appeal for more donors to go on the register."

He added: "A few years ago the brother of one of our members became ill and a clinic was held in Worcester, many people from Droitwich Rugby Club and the surrounding area attended in the hope of helping him and others who found themselves in the same situation.

"Thankfully he is now fit and healthy. That was five years ago and I would urge anyone in the local area to give an hour of their time to support the Anthony Nolan Trust and join the register and help others like him."

Debby Jepps, the trust's donor recruitment manager, said they were particularly looking for young males from ethnic minority backgrounds, as there is a shortage of this group on the register.

She said all potential donors must be aged between 18 and 40, weigh more than eight stone and be willing to help save the life of any patient they match.

For further details on becoming a bone marrow donor visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk