TWO youngsters were special guests at a film night in Manchester organised by the National Blood Service.

For Beth Morris from Ringley, it was a chance to up with old friend swimmer Adrian Turner at the event at the Filmworks cinema.

Beth, aged eight, first met the Commonwealth medallist as a result of his support NBS after she battled against leukaemia and needed blood transfusions. Adrian, aged 27, from Prestwich, also needed blood when he was struck down by a rare illness where his body rejected his own blood over the Millennium.

He has since become an ambassador for the Blood Service.

They met up at a special screening of It's a Wonderful Life , held to thank local people who gave blood in the run-up to Christmas.

Adrian said: "I just want to say a huge thank you to the donors for what they do."

Also among the guests was 18-year-old student Josie Davies, from Bolton, who made time in the busy run-up to Christmas to give a lifesaving donation of blood. She met up at the film with British Cycling team member Jon Norfolk who was also a blood donor.