A BIKER who voluntarily transports life-saving blood to hospitals has described the terrifying moment a motorist tried to block him from coming off the M65 while on an urgent call out.

Neil Naisbitt, 50, was left badly shaken after the black car almost touched the back tyre of his bright yellow bike at Junction 10, the Burnley and Padiham turn off.

He had been dispatched to collect a patient's notes from the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre in Burnley to take them to the Blackburn Birth Centre.

Luckily he saw the car, which had a group of youths inside, just in time,but says he was then chased from Gannow Top roundabout into the town centre.

Mr Naisbitt, who has been a volunteer with the Northwest Blood Bikes Lancs and Lakes group for three years, said: "It really upset me. I'm on a marked bike with 'Emergency Blood' written all over my jacket. He was trying to intimidate me.

"I don't think some drivers realise what they're doing. They're just idiots."

Neil first spotted the car on the motorway after picking up the liveried bike from Hyndburn Fire Station, where it is based, as he started his night shift at 7pm last Tuesday.

He said: "I got a call to go over to Burnley to pick up some notes to take over to Blackburn birth centre. Someone from Burnley must have been giving birth there.

"So I jumped on the M65 at Accrington. As I came up the slip road I noticed a black car in the middle lane. I overtook it and pulled into the inside lane. I was doing about 70mph.

"There was a truck and a few more cars a bit further up so I went into the middle lane and this car came flying past me. I noticed it as there were four or five lads inside."

But as Neil tried to leave the motorway, the driver attempted to block his exit.

He said: "I carried on through the lights and onto the roundabout. I could see this car had decided he was following me. Another car pulled in front of him and he was trying to overtake it. As I dropped down into Burnley I could see him in my mirrors jumping cars and I thought 'I'm not happy about this'.

"Once I got into the road works, there was no way he could do more to get near me. I went up the hill to the hospital and didn't see him again."

Neil, who did not report the incident to police, is now trying to raise £1,000 via justgiving to buy cameras for the service's blood bikes to catch out unsafe drivers.

Neil, a mechanic from Tottington, said: "Some people think we get paid to do this, but we're volunteers. They might think if they slow us down we won't get paid for a job but it's not a matter of that. It can be a life and death situation."

The Northwest Blood Bikes transport emergency supplies between NHS hospitals for free including blood, platelets, samples for analysis, patient notes and even donor breast milk.

Last year, the charity, who work nights, weekends and bank holidays, completed 11,452 jobs. So far this year it has carried out 7,722 call outs.

Riders undergo advanced training and can be authorised to use blue flashing lights during emergencies.

Lee Townsend, vice-chairman of the North West Blood Bikers, said: "I am aware of an incident that took place.

"I hope that the message to the public is that as volunteers we are trying to save lives and we hope other road users can give is courtesy and respect while travelling on the county's roads."

To donate to Neil's fund, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/neil-naisbitt