Shock rest home closure

Donors were queuing outside the Ashford-based trailer unit "Harvey" on Monday.

A poor turn-out at the last visit when only 39 donors gave blood put the future of the mobile unit's attendance in Pebsham Community Centre car park in doubt.

The National Blood Service requires a minimum of 70 donors for the visits to be viable.

Spokesman Vicky Smith warned in last week's Observer that if public response did not improve the service would have to be cancelled.

But Monday's afternoon session alone saw 41 donors giving blood. When the Observer called in to leave it's pint of blood at the evening session a further 25 had already been through the hands of "Harvey's" jovial team.

"Harvey" is named after William Harvey, who first established how blood is circulated around the body.

Vicky Smith said on Tuesday: "A total of 91 people attended of whom 69 gave blood. The number included a lot of potential new donors.

"Our message is thanks very much to everyone who supported the visit.

"It really has made a difference to that session and it will be going ahead - and going strong!"