Volunteer drivers will now be able to deliver emergency blood donations and breast milk in a new car thanks to the generosity of volunteers.

SERV Norfolk (Service by Emergency Response Volunteers) has been able to replace its ageing blood car with a £15,800 Volvo V40 to make urgent deliveries across the region.

The new car has been funded thanks to a £12,300 donation from The King's Lynn Hospitals League of Friends along with a further £3,600 from a golf day organised by Judy Bailey.

While SERV is well-known for its blood bikes, the team also requires a car to cover multiple deliveries along with ensuring that blood donations do not fall below 4?C during the winter months.

The new car was presented during a ceremony at North Lynn Fire Station on Thursday, August 10, which was attended by SERV volunteers and league of friends members, including the president Valeria, Viscountess Coke.

SERV Norfolk chairman Colin Farrington has thanked the League of Friends and the team of golfers for their support.

Mr Farrington, a retired firefighter who worked in King's Lynn, said: 'This new car is going to save the charity a lot of money. Our previous blood car, which was also funded by the league of friends,

was beginning to become quite costly due to repairs and running costs.

'Thanks to the league of friends and the golfers, our running costs will be now reduced which will enable to direct our limited funds to the most appropriate direction. I would like to thank the league of friends for their tremendous support since SERV was founded.'

SERV relies on volunteers to run the service and currently has 75 drivers on its books, who cover Norfolk's hospitals but can also make special deliveries to the London, Cambridge and beyond.

Mr Farrington said: 'Our vehicles do tend to clock up high mileage and we are available to the hospitals out of hours.'

The league of friends donates around £80,000 each year to the QEH, which has also funded a range of equipment.

There is a tradition of naming the vehicles after previous and current committee members and the new car will be named after secretary Carol Crake.

Chairman of the league of friends Tom Greenacre said: 'We are delighted to be able to support SERV, which is providing a fantastic service for the patients and staff of hospitals across the region.

'We would not be able to support this worthwhile charity without the support of the public and the dedicated volunteers.'

Judy Bailey and friends helped to raise £3,600 for the charity during a golf day which was held at Bawburgh Golf Club in June.

A total of 72 people took part in the event, which is the sixth year Judy has organised this event.

She said: 'We were really impressed by the work of the SERV and were keen to support them. We were delighted with the amount raised during the golf day for this great cause. I would like to thank everyone who took part and supported the event.'

If you would like to learn more about volunteering with the league of friends contact Tom Greenacre on 01553 842258.