OXFORDSHIRE donors have helped boost blood stocks by a third ahead of the Olympic Games.

There were fears donations would fall this summer due to a “perfect storm” of events, including the European football championships, Diamond Jubilee and Olympics.

The NHS Blood and Transplant service (NHSBT) was also concerned additional visitors to the UK would drive up demand for blood in the coming weeks.

But more than 89,500 donors from the South East region stepped forward since the blood drive was launched in June, including 8,112 from Oxfordshire.

It is up from about 7,900 county donations last year.

Blood stocks fell by 20 per cent during the 2006 World Cup.

NHSBT spokesman Jon Latham said: “We want to say a huge thank you to all the donors who helped us hit an ambitious target to help the nation prepare responsibly for the Games.

“We do need to maintain this higher level of stock right through to September and have already started to see appointments drop off as the celebrations begin, so please do keep donating throughout August to see us to the Paralympics in September.”

Colin Cook, Oxford city councillor for Jericho and Osney, has donated blood 77 times. He said: “We must do anything we can to encourage more people to donate. It is not that onorous a task and you never know when you might need it yourself.”

People who are eligible to donate in August must make an appointment at blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.