COLCHESTER United has come under criticism for charging the NHS to host blood donor sessions.

It is alleged to be charging the NHS £1,200 a day to hire a room at its Jobserve Community Stadium to use for the sessions.

The venue is one of six available in the Colchester area.

Blood donor Amy Goodwin said she was told the cost of the hire fee by a nurse during a session at the stadium.

She added: "I am appalled by this and everyone I have spoken to so far is too.

"Apparently there is also a lack of venues in Colchester which then limits the sessions donors can book in for.

"It is no wonder the NHS is falling apart and has no money."

But Gayle Franklin, the regional blood donation manager for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Across the country, some venues charge us for using their facilities while others provide their use for free.

"If venues are able to host us for free, or at a reduced amount, that helps reduce costs for the wider NHS. Blood donation saves lives and we look forward to seeing our Colchester donors at their next donation session.”

She added that rather than there being a lack of venues in Colchester, blood donor sessions are planned carefully to collect the right amount of blood in each area.

"We would not want to waste precious donations, and NHS resources, by visiting too many venues and collecting more blood than hospitals need. "

Colchester United was asked how much it charges the NHS to use the stadium, who gets the money and why it chooses to charge.

But it declined to comment.

Blood Donor sessions in the Colchester area include at the Wilson Marriage Centre in Brook Street, and in West Mersea, Earls Colne, Tiptree and Coggeshall.

More details can be found at my.blood.co.uk