NEARLY 2,000 people in Dorset signed up to a new campaign to recruit more blood donors.

The 1,711 new donors were among those who answered the 100,000 New Donors in 100 Days appeal by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).

It was launched following a dramatic decline in the number of younger donors signing up in 2012.

The 1,711 from Dorset joined 119,907 that signed up in England and north Wales.

Jon Latham, assistant director for marketing at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported the 100,000 new donors in 100 days campaign. It is fantastic that we exceeded the target and people signed up with such enthusiasm.”