THE Oxford and Cambridge branches of the National Blood Service were today taking part in a race to recruit the highest number of new blood donors in a working day.

The event comes ahead of the 153rd Oxford versus Cambridge boat race being held on Saturday.

Oxford staff will head off from the John Radcliffe Hospital at 9am. Both teams must return by 5pm.

The Oxford team will be visiting the Castle Quay Shopping Centre, Banbury, from 10am until 11.45am, the Tesco store in Bicester on Pringle Drive from 12.15pm until 1.45pm, and finishing their efforts at the Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford, from 2.15pm until 4pm.

The Oxford team have set their sights on enrolling 73 new donors which is the number of times Oxford have been successful in the annual University duel.