NEW and lapsed blood donors in the region have been urged to come forward following new restrictions to protect supplies against a deadly disease.

Fears that blood transfusions could help to spread variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) - the human form of "mad cow disease" - have grown after it emerged that a second patient may have contracted it in this way.

While the patient died of causes unrelated to the brain-wasting disease, a post-mortem examination revealed the presence of the vCJD agent.

The first reported case of a patient being infected with vCJD from a blood transfusion was revealed last December.

In response to the case, from last April the Government banned anyone who had received a blood transfusion since January 1980 from donating blood. This led to the launch of The Northern Echo's Lifeblood campaign in March to recruit more donors.

At that time, experts estimated that about 5,000 donors in the North-East and North Yorkshire would be barred.

Readers and their families immediately responded and extra donors have been registered at North-East collection sessions.

But now that new restrictions are being applied - barring two new groups of donors from giving blood again - the National Blood Service (NBS) has again called for donors to to ensure vital supplies are maintained.

Penny Richardson, regional spokeswoman for the NBS, said: "Your campaign has already made a difference. Within a couple of weeks we saw a good effect on donor sessions. Now we need your help again to replace regular donors who will no longer be able to give blood."

New groups banned from donating blood are those who are unsure whether they have previously had a blood transfusion and "apheresis" donors, who make frequent visits to give blood via a special machine.

To find out how to give blood, potential donors can call 0845 7711 711 or visit the National Blood Service website at www. blood.co.uk

Read more about the Life Blood campaign here.