A SCHOOLGIRL has thanked the 82 blood donors who she says gave her the "gift of life".

Beth Morris, aged nine, needed the transfusions while she battled leukaemia.

She eventually had a bone marrow transplant and is now in remission.

And on Tuesday she spearheaded an appeal on World Blood Donor Day urging more people to give blood.

A photograph of Beth, from Hollow Meadows, Ringley, went on show in a "celebration gallery" at Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens. It shows her with her pony, Pinky, and includes a message of thanks to blood donors.

The pupil of St Saviour's CE Primary School, Ringley, said: "I was diagnosed with leukaemia when I was 17 months old and fought the disease for the next five years.

"If it wasn't for the 82 wonderful people who gave me blood and my special bone marrow donor, I wouldn't be here today."

She added: "I am now a normal nine-year-old girl. Thank you for helping to save my life."

Beth underwent a life saving bone marrow transplant when she was five after a mystery donor was found in Germany.

Also featured in the exhibition is 15-year-old Emma Dootson who benefited from transfusions after being diagnosed with leukaemia four years ago.

She went through two years of chemotherapy but did not need a bone marrow transplant.

The leukaemia is now also in remission.

World Blood Donor Day is a international day of celebration aimed at thanking blood donors for saving lives.

Anyone aged between 17 and 60, weighing more than 7 stone 121b and in general good health can become blood donors.

For information, call 0845 7711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk