Magnetic resonance imaging method comprising: performing a balanced steady state free precession pulse sequence involving the application of periodic maintenance radio frequency pulses (α, -α) to maintain the steady state of the magnetization in an imaging region of a subject; performing readout of MR imaging data from the imaging region during each of a plurality of selected intervals between maintenance radio frequency pulses; and performing a spatially selective blood signal suppression sequence (62, 62') during each of a plurality of selected other intervals between maintenance radio frequency pulses, the blood signal suppression sequence involving a spatially selective radio, the suppression region and the imaging region being arranged such that blood is flowing from the suppression region to the imaging region frequency excitation ( RF suppress) directed to the suppression region and applied along with a spatial selection magnetic field gradient ( G suppress), wherein the blood signal suppression sequence further involves a dephasing magnetic field gradient ( G SK) applied after the spatial selection magnetic field gradient ( G suppress) and a prewinder magnetic field gradient ( G SP) applied prior to the spatial selection magnetic field gradient ( G suppress), the blood signal suppression sequence thereby being arranged to suppress a MR blood signal in a suppression region different from the imaging region, wherein the magnetization in the imaging region is not affected by said spatially selective radio frequency excitation ( RF suppress), the overall applied magnetic field gradient of the blood signal suppression sequence having a nulled zeroth moment. performing a balanced steady state free precession pulse sequence involving the application of periodic maintenance radio frequency pulses (α, -α) to maintain the steady state of the magnetization in an imaging region of a subject; performing readout of MR imaging data from the imaging region during each of a plurality of selected intervals between maintenance radio frequency pulses; and performing a spatially selective blood signal suppression sequence (62, 62') during each of a plurality of selected other intervals between maintenance radio frequency pulses, the blood signal suppression sequence involving a spatially selective radio, the suppression region and the imaging region being arranged such that blood is flowing from the suppression region to the imaging region frequency excitation ( RF suppress) directed to the suppression region and applied along with a spatial selection magnetic field gradient ( G suppress), wherein the blood signal suppression sequence further involves a dephasing magnetic field gradient ( G SK) applied after the spatial selection magnetic field gradient ( G suppress) and a prewinder magnetic field gradient ( G SP) applied prior to the spatial selection magnetic field gradient ( G suppress), the blood signal suppression sequence thereby being arranged to suppress a MR blood signal in a suppression region different from the imaging region, wherein the magnetization in the imaging region is not affected by said spatially selective radio frequency excitation ( RF suppress), the overall applied magnetic field gradient of the blood signal suppression sequence having a nulled zeroth moment.