ALL weather vehicles have been donated to two charities to keep their lifesaving blood transportation scheme on the road in all conditions.

The Vauxhall Mokka 4x4s were given to Northumbria Blood Bikes and Blood Bikes Cumbria which provide vital transportation of blood across the North.

The Henry Surtees Foundation made the donation in support of the Blood On Board project, which allows the Great North Air Ambulance Service to carry and administer blood on its rescue missions.

Yorkshire-born motorcycle racer turned commentator James Whitham- who won four British titles, survived crashes and battled lymphatic cancer- handed over the keys.

He said: “I’ve chased time at race tracks in pursuit of podiums, but for the likes of the Great North Air Ambulance Service every second can literally be the matter of life or death.

“The air ambulance and regional Blood Bike groups do an incredible selfless job.

“I hope that I will never need their services, but having had mates rescued from the side of remote mountains, and of course at race tracks it’s a service that resonates with me.”

Motorsport legend John Surtees set up The Henry Surtees Foundation following the death of his son Henry, 18, in a Formula 2 race in 2009.

It also donated equipment to the Great North Air Ambulance to help medics carry out roadside blood transfusions, a procedure administered three times since launching six weeks ago.

Owain Harris, representing the blood bike schemes, thanked the Foundation for its generosity and said the new vehicles mean blood will get through, every day, regardless of the weather, to save lives.

The Blood on Board project was devised by Dr Rachel Hawes, of GNAAS and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It covers Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Cumbria.