Shropshire’s top blood donors, from left, Brian Davies, of Heathgates, Shrewsbury; Frank Willis, of Telford; Alan Langley, of Telford; David Broome, of Telford; Audrey Dicken, of Telford; Simon Handley, of Shifnal; Susan Brown, of Telford; Allan Rogers, of Shrewsbury; Marion Gordon, of Bridgnorth; Alan Jacob, of Telford and Philippa Spray, of Shrewsbury.

She’s only seven years old, but already she’s undergone more than 40 blood transfusions. Now Shrewsbury girl Laura Cox has been able to thank some of the people whose regular blood donations have helped to keep her healthy.

Mum Jo with seven-year-old Laura

Laura suffers from a rare blood condition which periodically causes her antibodies – which are supposed to fight off infection– to attack her red blood cells.

But thanks to treatment and blood transfusions she has been in good health for more than a year.

The blood has come from more than 12,000 donors across Shropshire, and the most prolific – those who have donated between 75 and 100 pints – were thanked personally by Laura and her mother, Jo.

They were guests at a ceremony held at the Park House Hotel in Shifnal where commemorative gifts from NHS Blood and Transplant were presented to the top donors.

Eight were given crystal plates for reaching 75 donations.

They include Brian Davies, of Heathgates, Shrewsbury; Frank Willis, of Leadon Close, Telford; Audrey Dicken, of Lineton Close, Telford; Simon Handley, of Greenfields Crescent, Shifnal; and Susan Brown, of Silvington Close, Telford.

Also given a pat on the back were Marion Gordon, of Bernards Hill, Bridgnorth, and Philippa Spray, of the Hawthorns, Shrewsbury.

Five received a crystal decanter for notching up 100 donations – a milestone which is only reached by one per cent of donors.

They were Alan Langley, of Botfield Close, Telford; Steve Lane, of Wellington; David Broome, of Pagent Drive, Telford; Allan Rogers, of Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury, and Alan Jacob, of Woodrows, Telford.

It is estimated that a single blood donation – which is roughly a pint – can potentially help save the lives of three people.

So the top 13 Shropshire donors have helped around 3,300 patients.

Mrs Cox said she was delighted to have the chance to thank those who gave their blood. She said: “It’s because of those donors that Laura has been able to recover.

“She has had a lot of treatment and long periods in hospital. I wanted to show what giving blood can do. It’s made a huge difference to her.”

Suzanne Walsh, NHSBT’s lead donor relations manager for the West Midlands, said: “Every year many existing donors in our region have to stop giving blood due to factors like ill-health and medication, so in order to maintain blood stocks, we constantly need new donors.”

To become a donor make an appointment by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visiting www.blood.co.uk