A North London community centre was turned into a blood donation clinic on Sunday to help replenish NHS supplies.

On World Blood Donor Day, JW3 attracted 125 donors as part of a national effort to maintain supplies during the coronavirus outbreak.

While NHS stocks have remained steady during the crisis, a continuous supply of blood is required for surgery and those with illnesses such as anaemia and blood cancer. The NHS also now needs to collect plasma for research into the virus.

The over-subscribed event was fully booked a week in advance, with social distancing guidelines limiting participation.

Speaking at the event, NHS donor care supervisor Matthew Best gave a “big thank you” to all those who donated, saying  it “was a really successful day and we hope to have another one soon”.

JW3 CEO Raymond Simonson added: “The blood donated is enough to save up to 187 lives, which I find quite incredible.

“As a long-time blood donor myself, I was delighted that all 125 spaces were snapped up so quickly and that so many more people contacted us in the days leading up to it asking if they could be on a waiting list.

“We have now offered JW3 as a more regular venue to NHS Blood and hope to be able to announce more dates for giving blood at JW3 in a safe, socially distanced way in the coming weeks and months. There’s no easier way to save a life.”