POTENTIAL organ donors have been encouraged by NHS chiefs to come forward.

The calls come after new figures show 30 people in Lancashire donated their organs after death last year.

However 61 people in the county over the last five years have died before they received an organ, according to the Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report for 2018/19

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the courageous donors and their families across the country, who helped us to save so many lives last year.

"We know many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to let their final act to be saving lives through organ donation.

“No lifesaving transplant would be possible without the generosity of every donor and their families, who give their support and say ‘yes’ to organ donation."

The report also shows that, currently, 129 people in Lancashire are waiting for a transplant.

Mr Clarkson added: "Their only hope for a new life is that a family in their time of grief will make the wonderful decision to agree to organ donation. "