A NEW motorbike will be a lifesaver for patients needing blood transplants.

After two years of fundraising SERV Wessex – “The Bloodrunners” – have expanded their fleet with the addition of a third motorcycle, an £8,000 Triumph Tiger 800.

The bike will be ridden by members of the 80-strong volunteer group which delivers urgent blood supplies to hospitals across the south.

The cash was raised by charity volunteers, including chairman Dan Brown and Paul Slocombe and his son Andy, who collected donations in town centres, outside supermarkets and at 999 open days at fire stations and Gosport Life Boat station.

Businesses also helped raise the money by choosing SERV Wessex as their charity of the year.

Every night of the year, three of the SERV team give up their time to provide the vital out-of-hours delivery service, saving the NHS more than £18,000 per year in courier fees.

The purchase of a third motorcycle means that all three on-duty riders will be able to use specially-marked bright yellow machines rather than having to use their own bikes.

Dan, who grew up in Romsey, said: “We could have a complete team out on marked bikes and that would not cost our riders anything at all.”

The charity is now saving for a fourth bike.

For more information or to donate visit servwessex.org.uk.