Kathleen Hart has enjoyed 26 years of good health since her kidney transplant, and wants other Craven people to have the same gift.

Mrs Hart, wife of Sutton ward councillor Ken Hart, was one of the first to have a successful transplant in St James' Hospital, Leeds in 1974.

Before the operation she led a very restricted life, spending 20 hours a week on a kidney dialysis machine.

But the new kidney gave her a new lifestyle and since then she has taken part in the 1976 transplant games, climbed Ben Nevis and seen two grandchildren come into the world.

She celebrated her kidney's 21st birthday in 1995 and is now backing a Craven District Council campaign to register more organ donors.

Donor registration forms are being enclosed with electoral register forms sent to every household in the Craven district.

The campaign came about after a request by Christine Barrows, a member of the National Kidney Federation to council chairman Peter Walbank.

"I know Craven people are kind-hearted and considerate of others and I am sure we will see a good response to this promotion," he says.

Craven Primary Care Group has donated £1,500 towards the campaign.

Mrs Hart, of Meadow Lea in Sutton, says: "Since the transplant I've been able to lead a normal life. So I'm fully behind this campaign."

Picture flashback:

Kathleen celebrating the 21st birthday of her transplanted kidney