An urgent call has been made for Braintree people to give blood.
NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for donors in the run up to Christmas to ensure there is enough stocked up over the festive period.
November through to the New Year is typically a challenging time for blood stocks.
Hospitals in England and North Wales will need up to half a million units of blood to see them through the period.
But a unit of blood only has a shelf life of 35 days, making it crucial that enough donors come forward to donate over the next few weeks.
Upcoming donor sessions are in Bocking Arts Theatre in Bocking End from 1.30pm - 4pm and 5pm-7.30pm on December 3 and December 16.
Feering Community Centre, Coggeshall Road, will be holding sessions from 1.45pm-4pm and 5pm-7.45pm on December 27.
For more information and to book, call 0300 123 23 23.
There will be some walk in slots available.
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