CORNEAS from the late Richard Whiteley have been used to restore the sight of two people.

His long-term partner, Kathryn Apanowicz, approved the donation of the 61-year-old former Countdown host's corneas after his death last year.

She is now backing a campaign to increase the number of donors.

Ms Apanowicz said: "I have always been a firm believer that if you are willing to receive a transplant, you should be willing to donate. Richard felt the same way.

"In many ways, receiving a telephone call at home after Richard's death was better than being approached whilst I was in hospital.

"It gave me the chance to take my time and consider the options before responding.

"The nurses in the tissue services team were very sensitive in the way they explained the process to me, and I have absolutely no doubt looking back that agreeing for Richard's tissues to be used for the benefit of someone else was the right thing to do."

Tissues can be donated up to 48 hours after someone dies.

Ms Apanowicz was approached about donation as part of a new scheme involving the NHS Blood and Transplant group, hospitals in Leeds and the city's university.

Since staff from the transplant group began working with the hospitals to approach families directly, tissue donation rates in Leeds have increased more than six-fold