HUNDREDS of people who gathered yesterday to say farewell to a popular teacher were urged to help campaign for a change in the law on organ donation.

Mary Baxter died of pulmonary fibrosis, aged 56, while awaiting a lung transplant.

Her death notice appealed to mourners to either carry a donor card or apply for one.

Existing legislation requires anyone wanting to donate organs after death to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, but the family is calling for new laws to treat all people as donors unless they opt out.

Mrs Baxter was top of the lung transplant waiting list when she died on August 6.

Yesterday, her husband, Ray, urged all of the 250 mourners at the humanist service to lobby their MPs to help change the law in his wife's memory.

He said: "We wouldn't be here today if we had that system because Mary would still be alive. She died because there wasn't a lung for her."

He said the things most important to his wife included her family and friends, her dogs and horses, holidays and helping others.

He said she was a people person and a great listener who made things happen.

"Mary, because of the cherishing and loving person you are, you will always live on in our hearts and minds," he said.

Tributes were also made by Edwin Thornon, a recipient of a kidney transplant, and Pauline Calvert, who were colleagues at Abbey Hill School, in Stockton, as well as friends Sheila Williams and Ann-Marie.

Mrs Baxter's son, James, also read a tribute and a poem written by his adoptive sister Becky.

School headteacher Mike Vening, who was unable to attend, also sent a tribute.

In accordance with Mrs Baxter's wishes, mourners were asked to wear bright, colourful clothing and children were welcome at the service.

She had also asked for donations to the Newcastle Hospitals Lung Research Fund instead of flowers.

In her final months, Mrs Baxter had knitted scarves for loved ones and many mourners wore these.

Mrs Baxter, who always considered herself a Yorkshire woman, was born in Middlesbrough, where she lived until she was 11. She returned to the region from Warwickshire after completing training in art and teaching at a Darlington school.

She married her first husband, Sam, when she was 21 and they had two sons, James and Tom. The couple split up when the boys were young and she moved to Aldbrough St John, near Richmond, with her son.

In 1986, she met Ray, who encouraged her to return to teaching and she got a job at Abbey Hill, where she was instrumental in setting up links with schools in France, Italy and Sweden, which was revolutionary for a special school at the time.

The couple, who had three sons between them from previous marriages, adopted their daughter, Becky.

As well as husband Ray, sons James and Tom Saunders, daughter Becky Jones-Baxter, Mrs Baxter leaves mother Grace Buckle, brother John and sister Sarah.