The NHS has issued an urgent call to black people for blood donations to help tackle sickle cell disease.

A shortage of blood is being faced by hospitals amid a soaring demand from sickle cell disease patients.

The NHS says that the disease is "fastest growing genetic condition in UK" and the demand for blood has jumped 67% in five years.

According to experts, "ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment" for the condition.

People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems as the cells do not live as long as healthy blood cells.

It is a serious, lifelong health condition but treatment can help manage many of the symptoms.

Sickle cell disease is especially common in people with African and Caribbean heritage.

NHS blood and transplant said that 250 donations are needed every day to help people with sickle cell as opposed to five years ago when only 150 donations a day were needed.

It's been said that the rising demand is being driven by the growing number in patients and the number, patients living longer and the increased number of people receiving "complete blood transfusions".

At this time, only half of blood donation hospital requests are provided with matched blood.

Other patients are to be treated with the universal blood type, O negative. Although this is clinically safe, it can lead to long-term complications.

55% of black people have a Ro blood type, compared to 2% of the wider population.

Dr Rekha Anand, consultant in transfusion medicine for NHSBT said: "Matched blood is vital for sickle cell patients to reduce the risk of serious complications and black people are more likely to be able to donate matched blood."

"There has been a small rise in black people donating blood but we urgently need more to become regular donors."

"Giving blood is easy, quick and safe – and you will save and improve lives."

NHS England's director of healthcare inequalities improvement , Dr Bola Owolabi, added: "Sickle cell disproportionately affects people from a Black African or Black Caribbean background and these new figures show hospitals need more blood for people with sickle cell disease than ever before."

"I urge anyone from these communities who is able to give blood to step forward and help treat the thousands of people living with this painful hereditary condition."

Professor Kevin Fenton, regional director for London for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, said: "Being able to provide high quality clinical care to sickle cell patients both saves and improves the quality of their lives and is an important step in helping tackle health inequalities."

"I urge anyone who is eligible to donate blood as this selfless act will ensure we can continue to save lives by helping those who need it most."