TWENTY-five people have died in Cumbria in the last five years due to a shortage of organs.

The shock figure was released by NHS Blood and Transport today in a bid to get more people talking about organ donation while spending time with family at Christmas.

It also revealed that there are 65 people in the county currently on the waiting list for a transplant.

"Don’t miss the opportunity to discuss organ donation when you’re with your family this Christmas," said Anthony Clarkson, acting director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant.

“We know that Christmas is a time for enjoying ourselves and talking about the nice things in life like future holidays. But for people in need of an organ, Christmas is a very difficult time so we are urging everybody to talk about organ donation.

"21 people in Cumbria have received a life-saving organ transplant from a deceased donor this year.

"To help save more people we need everyone, including the 156,058 people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in Cumbria, to talk to their loved ones about their donation decision."

Fewer than 5,000 people each year die in circumstances where they can donate their organs.

NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people to tell their families this Christmas that they want to donate their organs, and to record their decision by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.