Festivalgoers at this year's Greenbelt gave generously to the NHS's campaign to increase blood and organ donors among Christians.

A new donor signed up to be a donor every two minutes at the festival, which marked its 40th anniversary this year.
Over 800 people signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register or registered to be blood donors before the end of the weekend.

The youngest was a seven-year-old boy who joined with his mother saying, "Someone else will need them more than I will."

The registration drive was part of the FleshandBlood campaign being run by the NHS to encourage more churches and Christians to see blood and organ donation as a part of their giving.

According to NHS figures, around three people die each day because of a shortage of organs.

Paul Northup, Greenbelt's creative director said: "Enabling Greenbelters to sign up as blood and organ donors in a year where we celebrate life's beginnings has been a privilege.

"We're overwhelmed by the communal generosity that was shown and want to thank NHS Bloo and Transplant and all those who made the decision to become donors at the festival."

The FleshandBlood campaign is supported by the Church of England, The Salvation Army, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the Church in Wales, as well as the HOPE mission movement and the Evangelical Alliance.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has also got behind the campaign, writing a poem in support of the cause.

Zeeshan Asghar, partnership development manager at NHS Blood and Transplant said: "We're delighted with the response from Greenbelt festivalgoers who have made this one of our most successful events ever.

"We would like to say thank you to the event organisers for allowing us to feature at the festival, it would not be possible to have recruited so many people without their support.

"In addition, we would like to thank all the festivalgoers who registered, as their decisions will help to save many lives in the future."