A TOWN’s mayor has notched up an impressive centenary after donating his 100th pint of blood to the transfusion service.

Mayor of Northallerton, councillor John Forrest is encouraging other people to do the same in the hope of boosting donations.

Cllr Forrest , 71, started donating when he was with the Army in Cyprus in 1968 but because he worked away a lot has had problems maintaining donations, until more recently. As a universal donor, his blood group is 0-negative which means it can be used for patients with any blood type.

Mr Forrest said:”I just felt it was something I should do to help other people, I would like to think other people would help me in the same situation, that’s why I am also on the donor register.”

The importance of the donations hit home five years ago when his wife Edna had to have open heart surgery, receiving many units of blood.

“It really made me realise how crucial it was then, I don’t know if Edna received any of my blood , but it was because of the donations that people have made that the operation could be carried out.

“I would encourage people to donate if they can, just before Christmas the service was desperate, because it’s a particularly busy time of the year, and if people don’t give blood there is nowhere else it can come from. I was worried that I would not be able to reach my 100th donation because the age limit used to be 65, but it’s changed, if you are fit and healthy you can donate,” added Cllr Forrest.