A campaign has been launched to encourage more people to give blood as donor numbers are dropping.

Last year, 22,852 people in Hertfordshire gave blood at least once, with 1,473 donors from Watford.

However, the number of people giving blood for the first time in England has decreased by 24.4 per cent in 2015 compared to 2005.

Last year, 10 per cent of donors in Hertfordshire were aged 17-24, and 56 per cent were aged 45 and over. Mother and baby, Tara Burke and Ethan Burke, from Kings Langley were saved by blood transfusions.

During pregnancy doctors discovered Ms Burke had antiphospholipid syndrome, which causes her blood to clot. This contributed to her developing pre-eclampsia and HELLP, a rare blood clotting disorder.

Ms Burke said: “I was in a critical way. I remember being frightened, not for me, I just wanted the baby to be ok.

“I wouldn’t be here without blood donors, and neither would Ethan.”

Mike Stredder, director of blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Blood donation is an amazing gift and transfusions saves lifes in Hertfordshire every day. We need people from Watford and St Albans to register today as new blood donors.”

There is high demand for O and A negative, as well people from black and South Asian communities.

To register to be a donor, visit www.blood.co.uk.