David Hill, of Main Street, was presented with a long-service pin by the National Blood Service last month after nurses in Buckingham took his 100th pint.

Mr Hill, 69, started donating blood in 1962 when he was living in Liverpool, and has been giving three pints of blood a year ever since.

He said: "My father gave blood during the war and he used to bring home a sweet for me to eat. Giving blood seemed like a worthwhile thing to do.

"Only 4% of the population gives blood and 40% of us will need blood at some time in our lives. The blood service is pretty desperate for blood donors."

He added he had been told he was the first person donating blood in Buckingham to donate his 100th pint.

He has lived in the Buckingham area since 1967 and used to donate blood in Brackley when he was working as an environmental health officer for South Northants Council.

"When I started giving blood in Liverpool, a little girl who had a hole in her heart was having an operation and it took 27 pints for her to have this operation," Mr Hill said. "They are crying out for blood."

Blood donor sessions are being held at Buckingham Community Centre on October 10, November 6 and December 24.