British Superbike champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has praised the work of a team of volunteers who provide a life-saving service across Kent.

Shane was speaking at the opening of a new headquarters for Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers (Serv) which transports medical supplies across the county.

The so-called 'blood bikers' work for the NHS for free and last year received almost 3,000 call-outs.

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The Kent branch was formed 20 years ago but this is the first time it has had its own dedicated base.

The secure compound, a former police traffic post at the M2 Farthing Corner Services in Gillingham, includes a repair workshop, meeting rooms and a training suite.

Trveor Sayer, from Serv, said: “Previously our volunteers always worked from home and while this will still be the case, we have now got somewhere where we can carry our repairs, somewhere to train and we can use it for meetings.

Watch: Kent's life-saving blood bikers get a new HQ

“The M2 services is also a change-over point for blood coming from London and going to East Kent and other parts of the county and because our volunteers work at night, the change-over may be at 2am.

"Having this premises means we have somewhere secure where volunteers, who include both men and women, can wait.”

There are seven volunteers on duty every night, as well as during the day at weekends, who transport blood, vaccines, breast milk, medical notes and x-rays.

The bikers now also deliver blood to the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance each night for medics to carry on board which enables them to transfuse blood at the scene of accidents.

Mr Sayer added: “Last year we answered 2,900 calls. This is a 60% rise compared to the previous four or five years. It has been increasingly rapidly so a base like this is a great boost for our volunteers.”

Four times and current British Superbike champion Shane, who has recently had an operation on his hand after a pre-season crash in Spain, cut the ribbon to officially open the building on Monday and spent time chatting to the volunteers.

He said: “It is an honour to open the headquarters, to meet the guys and find out about the service they provide.

"It is an invaluable service and it is great that it is growing the way it is and getting recognition.”

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