THE Westmorland Gazette’s Gift of Life campaign has already been heralded as a major success, which could save scores of lives of people waiting for organ transplants.

In just six weeks, more than 200 people have signed up to the organ donor register.

Pam Prescott, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Getting 200 new people on the register is a fantastic achievement,” she said.

“To get that many people cutting out a coupon and sending it into the newspaper is really impressive, especially since summer time is traditionally a bad time for people signing up because of holidays.”

Director of public health for Cumbria, Prof John Ashton said he was delighted at the public’s support.

He said: “This campaign is an example of local people getting behind an issue and The Westmorland Gazette should be proud.

“Organ donation is a very poignant symbol of a society whose members care about each other and the Gift of Life is another way in which Cumbrians can set an example.”

Nurse Sarah Ralley, donor transplant co-ordinator for Lancaster Royal Infirmary and Furness General Hospital at Barrow, said: “I think it’s great how many people have signed up. ”

The campaign was launched to tackle the drastic shortage of organ donors living in the region.

Currently only 19.5 per cent of people living in the Cumbria NHS area are signed up to the organ donor register - ten per cent below the national average.

Andrew Thomas, senior content editor of The Westmorland Gazette, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the people who have signed up to the campaign so far. "But the campaign does not stop here.”