PEOPLE from County Durham who saved lives through the gift of organ donation have been posthumously honoured at a moving award ceremony.

They received the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant, which was given to their families and loved ones on their behalf.

The private award ceremony was held at Durham Town Hall.

Hundreds of families are receiving the award at regional ceremonies held across the UK between September and December. The awards recognise the 1,574 people who donated their organs after death last year, leading to thousands of patients’ lives being saved or transformed.

People recognised at the ceremony included Kira Natasha Ebdale, of South Hetton, who received the award on behalf of her mother Joan Ebdale and Daniel and Ashley Burns, of Stockton, who received the award on behalf of their father Robert Burns.

During 2017/18, thanks to the generosity of these donors and the support of their families, the number of deceased donors in the UK went up from 1,413 to 1,574, a rise of 11 per cent and the highest number ever in the UK. There are now more than 25m people on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

However, there are still around 6100 people on the UK transplant waiting list and around three people die each day in need of an organ.

Tony Shepherd, head of County Priory Group Affairs for the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS Blood and Transplant to run the Organ Donor Awards for a sixth year and to meet the inspirational families attending the ceremonies. “Organ donation can clearly save lives and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have already donated their organs to save other people’s lives.”

To join NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk and tell your family you want to save lives through organ donation.