A MELKSHAM town councillor was among a group of donors who were thanked for giving between 50 and 75 pints of blood.

Cllr Vic Oakman was awarded a gold pen and tie pin for giving 50 units of blood over 18 years.

"I would advise anyone to take it up because it is really worthwhile. It's nothing to give up a quarter of an hour when you consider how many lives it could be saving," he said.