GENEROUS blood donors who have helped hand a lifeline to countless patients in York, North and East Yorkshire have been praised.

Nearly 50 donors - including a dozen from the York area - attended an awards ceremony in the city.

The event was organised by the National Blood Service (NBS) and recognised the efforts of life-savers who each gave between 75 and 100 donations of the precious red stuff.

Held as part of the National Blood Service campaign A Lot To Say Thank You For, the Pavilion Hotel ceremony honoured donors, supporters and staff who have helped save and improve the lives of thousands of sick and injured patients over several decades.

Yorkshire NBS spokeswoman Laura Summers said: "These donors, who were mostly around retirement age, have shown remarkable loyalty to the NBS. Their actions really do save lives."

Meanwhile, one York resident is well on the way to clocking up a similarly impressive achievement after notching up his half century of donations.

JCB driver Geoffrey Marriner, 55, started giving blood more than 30 years ago.

Now he is celebrating after receiving a gold badge and certificate from the NBS marking his magic 50 donations milestone.

Mr Marriner, of Holtby, near York, said: "My father used to donate and that's how I started.

"I've been going about twice a year since the early 1970s and I'll carry on at least until I'm 65. I think I've helped put a bit back into society."

His wife, Jean, 55, said: "I'm really proud of him. Geoffrey also seems to cope very well after donating and goes off to work the next morning on the roadworks."

Mrs Summers said Mr Marriner, who donates at Stillington, had completed "a fantastic achievement".

The NBS is calling on people to spare an hour to become blood donors. Phone 08457 711711 or log on to the website at www.blood.co.uk for more details. You must be aged between 17 and 60, or 17 and 70 for regular donors, be in general good health and weigh more than 50kg.

Updated: 09:26 Saturday, March 13, 2004