PEOPLE in the North West are among the most kind-hearted when it comes to being an organ donor, a study has found.

Over the last five years, numbers on the donor register regionally have almost doubled.

In 1998, 600,000 people in the North West were registered but according to latest figures from Manchester University, that had risen to 1,006,000.

Dawn Lee, a donor co-ordinator at Manchester Royal Infirmary, said: "These figures show just how generous local residents are and I would like to thank them for the very special gift they are offering. But we would like the total to get much higher."

Currently there are 867 local people including 29 children in the North West waiting for organ transplants that could save or dramatically improve their lives.

Former soccer star George Best was saved from death when he received a new liver.

Last year, 89 people locally donated organs after their death to help others and 41 became living donors by giving a kidney to a relative or friend.

During the same period, 287 North West residents received transplants -- 13 heart, 72 liver and 172 kidneys.

Nationally, there is a critical shortage of donors in the UK. Anyone wanting to join the register should telephone 0845 6060 400.