TWO men have each lost 75 pints of blood - yet they are as fit as fiddles!

For Peter Keavey and Roy Fairhurst have been honoured at a special ceremony at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground to thank the region's most dedicated blood donors.

Retired BT engineer Peter (63), of Brandlesholme Road, Bury, was inspired to start giving blood by his father who needed blood as a young man after being seriously injured in an accident. His father went on to become a dedicated donor, and took Peter along as soon as he was old enough.

Peter said: "Blood is the only thing that, to date at least, science cannot provide. Giving blood makes me feel like I am making a real difference to someone's life."

Roy, a retired lecturer of Newington Drive, has been giving blood for around four decades. He recalled: "I was encouraged to start giving blood 40 years ago while I was doing my National Service. I quickly realised that in an emergency, blood is often essential for saving lives and that has kept me giving all these years."

Both men received specially engraved crystal plates to mark their 75th donation of blood.

The awards were presented by 14-year-old Matthew Bonner. Diagnosed as a baby with a rare genetic immune disorder, over the years he needed many transfusions of specially donated white blood cells to boost his immune system.

In October 2002 his condition deteriorated and his only hope of a permanent cure was a bone marrow transplant. His body rejected a first transplant but a second was successful. During his treatment he needed severaltransfusions of red blood cells.

In a speech to the donors, Matthew said: "Without the support and dedication of blood donors I wouldn't be standing here today. Thanks to people like you, I have recovered from my illness and can play football with my friends like any other 14 year-old boy."

Only six per cent of the UK population eligible to give blood are active donors, and of that number, around one per cent reach 75 donations each year.

Rachel Roberts, spokeswoman for the National Blood Service, explained why blood donors are so important. "Peter and Roy have reached a remarkable achievement, and one which represents a lifetime of dedication to helping save the lives of local patients."

For more information on becoming a blood donor, call 0845 7 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk