New bike 'will save lives'

The new specially modified motorbike Credit: ITV Border

Blood Bike Cumbria unveiled a new, specially modified motorbike today.

It was bought using £5000 donations made by Sellafield Ltd and Nuclear Management Partners.

The charity provides an out-of-hours emergency service, transporting blood and blood products between the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and haematology laboratories in Newcastle.

The group of 50 self-funded volunteers had previously been using four marked motorbikes to complete their job.

Today they added a fifth, an approved emergency services motorbike with high visibility wrap, blue lights and the ability to carry the specially designed bags and boxes for transferring blood and blood products.

The new bike can carry the specially designed bags and boxes for transferring blood and blood products. Credit: ITV Border

The volunteers say the new vehicle will make a real difference.

As well as the cash donations, six of the charities volunteers who work for Sellafield Ltd are given paid time off to work to carry out their Blood Bike roles.