A CARING pensioner who has donated blood more than 100 times was among those honoured at a special prize giving.

A National Blood Service ceremony was held, at Crondon Park Golf and Country Club, near Stock, to thank donors from across Essex who had given blood at least 75 times.

Robert Wood, 69, of Chaffinch Crescent, Billericay, was among 11 donors who have now rolled up their sleeves an incredible 100 times.

Mr Wood, who will have to stop giving blood once he reaches his 70th birthday in February, is keento get the next generation of donors involved.

He has already persuaded his grandson, Luke Reid, 19, to carry on the tradition.

Mr Wood said: “Hopefully, he will carry on doing it once I’m no longer allowed.

“It’s important young people donate, as fewer people do it nowadays.”

Mr Wood said he had always been delighted to give blood, despite one less than pleasant experience when a nurse had stuck the needle into the wrong part of his arm.

He said: ”She put the needle in one side and it slipped out the other. It left me with a big bruise, but it didn’t stop me.”

Among the other donors commended at the ceremony were Colin Travers, from South Ockendon, Penelope Edwards, from Stanford-Le-Hope, Peter Furness, from Billericay, and Roger Glover, from Billericay, all of whom have all given blood at least 75 times.