"BLOOD doesn’t grow on trees" was the message from NHS Blood and Transplant as they decorated trees in Southampton city centre with red blood drops.

The woolly “blood drops” marked the launch of a new campaign to highlight the fact that someone must donate blood before it can be used to save lives.

It is hoped that this message particularly resonates with younger people and inspires them to become blood donors, as the number of people aged between 17 and 24 signing up to give blood has fallen significantly in recent years.

Donna Batty, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We hope people like the campaign and respond to it by committing to donate blood if they can.”

To register as a donor and book an appointment visit blood.co.uk/trees.