For many, the thought of giving blood is a scary prospect – but not for Peter Harrison.

The 52-year-old started giving blood every six months when he was a teenager in the late 70s, and then moved on to donating platelets – which can be done more regularly – in 1992.

He has now reached his 500th donation – a record in Leicestershire – and has received an NHS Blood and Transplant award for his efforts.

Peter, who lives in Croft, said: "I started when I left school and started working for the old electricity board.

"They asked me if I would be willing to donate in the interview and I thought I should probably say yes. I've never stopped since then.

"When the new technology came in so that people could just donate platelets, they were looking especially for young males, so I started doing that.

"It's quite different to giving whole blood because the blood is taken out of your body, the platelets are taken out, and the rest is put back in."

Platelets are cell fragments that help blood clot.

Peter, who works as a carer for Leicester home care company Home Instead Senior Care, goes to the blood donation centre in Vaughan Way, in the city centre, about once a month.

He said: "It's always necessary so I'm going to carry on."