LEGEND has it that St George slayed a dragon and a red rose sprouted from a drop of its blood which he then gave to a princess. Now the public is being asked to give their blood on St George's Day next Wednesday (April 23)

LEGEND has it that St George slayed a dragon and a red rose sprouted from a drop of its blood which he then gave to a princess.

Now the public is being asked to give their blood on St George's Day next Wednesday (April 23), when the Blood Donor Service runs two sessions at the Bishopsgate Institute in the City of Lonon.

The service needs 7,000 blood donations every day to supply hospitals up and down the country. Hospitals in London alone use up 6,000 units of blood every week.

It is appealing for new donors, as it loses 15 per cent of donors a year as they reach retirement, move away or can no longer donate for medical reasons.

Wednesday's two sessions are in the Bishopsgate Institute's Great Hall at 230 Bishopsgate, EC2, near Liverpool Street station, at 9.30 to 11.30am and 1-4pm.

New donors need to be between 17 and 59, in general good health and weigh over 7st 12lbs. Regular donors can give blood up to 70.

The 24-hour National Donor Helpline is: 0845-7711711.

The website is:

www.blood.co.uk