Some 150 people turned up at the Blood Bank to donate blood yesterday following an urgent appeal issued in the wake of a shooting incident in Valletta. 100 bags of blood were collected.

Media officer Tony Micallef said the people's response had been 'phenomenal' and 'generous' adding that even more people had gone to the Blood Bank at Guardamangia but did not enter on seeing the queue.

"On ordinary days, we would be lucky to have 50 donors in a day" he said.

The surge in donors had continued this morning, he said, and he hoped it would continue in the future as well.

Mr Micallef said that while the Blood Bank had been able to handle the demand for blood for the shooting victim, it had needed to urgently replenish reserves, lest some other emergency cropped up.

Donations of all groups of blood were welcome, he stressed.

The Blood Bank - outside St Luke's Hospital - will remain open till 6 p.m. today. www.blood.gov.mt

Meanwhile, businessman Joe Baldacchino, the victim of yesterday's shooting, remains in a serious condition at Mater Dei. He underwent emergency surgery after being hit by a single bullet in his back.