Thousands of university students are being urged to give blood.

Brighton and Sussex universities are being targeted in a new recruitment campaign by the National Blood Service (NBS) which involves sending text messages to mobile phones as reminders.

The service hopes many donors who agree to give blood will carry on to become lifelong donors.

The NBS has been visiting the University of Sussex campus for nine years and the Brighton University campus for seven.

So far 3,765 units have been collected between them, potentially saving the lives of nearly 11,000 people.

NBS spokesman Russell Guthrie said: "There is a potential to recruit many new donors on campus."

The Argus recently reported the NBS was targeting Brighton and Hove and West Sussex and was hopeful of bringing in more donors.

People have since been contacting the service offering suitable smaller sites for donor sessions.

As a result, several new sessions are likely to start up by the new year.

The NBS is constantly looking for donors and more details are available on 08457 711711.