With fewer than three per cent of people aged 17-70 having given blood in the last year, NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people in Cornwall to make a New Year’s resolution that saves lives.

The service says giving blood for the first time is an inspirational way to start 2016 and that by giving up just one hour of your time you could save or improve up to three lives. As an added incentive, donors get a warm welcome, refreshing drink and biscuits.

First-time donors are always needed to replace those unable to donate any more, and to ensure the service has the right mix of blood groups to meet patient needs.

Karen Healy, the service’s senior marketing coordinator, said: ‘The New Year is a time when a lot of people focus on giving things up. We’re asking people in Cornwall to focus on giving, and to register to give blood. More than half of our donors are aged over 45, so it’s important that we recruit younger people to donate blood now and in the years to come.

To book an appointment, see www.blood.co. uk or call 0300 123 2323. Mobile booking apps for various devices can be downloaded by searching for ‘NHSGiveBlood’ in the app store.