It was dubbed Vampire Day at Southend Hospital - a chance for the bosses to be bled dry.

Luckily for chief executive, David Brackenbury, it did not quite reach that extreme when Maureen Cartwright got stuck in with the needle.

Mr Brackenbury, finance director Andy Morris (left), and other members of the hospital trust board decided to lead by example in the hope of encouraging more staff to give blood and ensure operating theatres have enough stocks to meet demand.

Moving in on her prey - Maureen Cartwright gladly bleeds her boss David Brackenbury dry in a bid to promote the need for staff to give blood

Picture: ANDY PALMER

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.