BLOOD donor sessions are being held in Minehead on Thursday – one from 1.10pm to 3.30pm and another from 4.30pm to 7pm.

It is already three-quarters full but the NHS Blood and Transplant service is hoping more people will attend the sessions, which are at Minehead Barbarians Rugby Club’s Tom Stewart Field, Ellicombe.

Donors should book an appointment phone 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk – rather than just walk in.

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said: “We need people who are fit and healthy to keep donating as normal during the coronavirus outbreak.

“We’ve put extra safety measures in place and safety is always our number one priority. We’re now doing extra cleaning and triage everyone who arrives so only people with no risk factors can enter the donation area.

“A lot of people have called us asking if sessions are still going ahead. We need them to know that our sessions and donor centres are still open and that travel to a blood donation session is essential for the NHS.

“Blood donation is a reason to do something amazing. Blood donation saves lives.

“We’re asking donors to follow the latest advice on our website and app and the advice from the Government. We’re regularly reviewing the situation and working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, PHE, and the UK’s other blood donation services.

“Donations have dropped though our stock levels are currently still good because hospitals are cancelling routine operations. We need people to keep donating to make sure we can keep supplying the blood hospitals need in the coming weeks and months.

“Patients and doctors are relying on us to be there.”