THE countdown has begun for what will be one of the most amazing organ transplants in the region.

In four days, father-of-two Derek Marshall, 56, will give his lifelong friend Bill Brough, 54, one of his kidneys.

It had been hoped that the two-hour transplant would take place on November 13, but a last-minute administrative hitch meant it had to be put off.

Now Mr Marshall and Mr Brough have high hopes that the first friend-to-friend kidney transplant in the North-East will go ahead next week.

Both men hope that the operation will encourage other friends to consider following their example.

As long as a donor is fit and healthy and has the same blood group as the recipient, the transplant has a good chance of success.

Mr Marshall, who lives in the Nunthorpe area of Teesside, has known Mr Brough since they were both at Whinney Banks Primary School, Middlesbrough, in the 1950s.

When Mr Brough became dangerously ill and developed kidney failure after a business trip to Mexico, Mr Marshall stepped in and offered to donate one of his healthy kidneys to help his friend.

"I was disappointed that we missed our slot last month but we are both raring to go," said Mr Marshall.

"If this transplant gives Bill a better quality of life, it will be all worth it," he added.

Mr Brough, who lives in the Great Ayton area, is keen to spread the word about friend-to-friend kidney transplants.

"If this publicity makes one person come forward it will be all worthwhile," he said.

Mandy McGowan, the transplant co-ordinator at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, who advised the two friends has described Mr Marshall's offer of a kidney as "a wonderful gesture".

The operation is on Wednesday.