BRADFORD Royal Infirmary has removed the 'B', 'A' and 'O' from its sign above the hospital's main entrance as part of an awareness campaign to encourage people to give blood.

Across the nation, street signs, shop fronts and brand labels have all been losing the letters of blood-types from their names to coincide with the NHS's drive to boost donor supplies during National Blood Week, which ends this weekend.

Sunday is also World Blood Donor Day which is organised by the World Health Organisation and designed to encourage people to give blood.

The NHS's Missing Type campaign is aimed at highlighting that too few new people donate and supplies of these blood types could go missing in future.

According to latest figures, more than 204,000 new donors are needed to replace people who cannot donate any more, and to ensure the right mix of blood groups.

January is the busiest month for donors as people honour new year resolutions, but NHS chiefs need to see a surge in donations all through the year.

Bradford Hospitals Foundation Trust chief executive Professor Clive Kay said: "We simply can't ignore the fact that there has been a stark reduction in the number of new donors coming forward, a trend seen across the world.

"While we can meet the needs of patients now, it's important we strengthen the donor base for the future. I would urge people across Bradford who've not considered giving blood before or who are lapsed donors, to get in touch with NHS Blood and Transplant to find out where and when their next local donation session will be held and to go along.

"Giving blood is an amazing thing to do. Your donation could literally be a matter of life and death for somebody else."

Interim chief nurse Jackie Ardley added: "Every day 7,000 units of blood are needed to help save and improve the lives of sick and injured patients across Bradford, England and North Wales.

"We would encourage everyone who can, to give blood. To be eligible to give blood you must be aged between 17 and 65, weigh over 7st 12lbs (50kg) and be in good health. The impact and the good that a person can do by donating blood is immense.”

Health bosses hope that sharing facts about blood donation will also encourage people to step-up.

One hundred donations equals 47 litres of blood, B type blood is the rarest with only two per cent of the population having it and the world record for the most number of donations being given on just one day was 25,000 donations in Mumbai in 2010.

Each blood donation can help as many as three people, yet only four per cent of adults are currently donors.

To find out how to donate, visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 2323 to book an appointment.