LAURA Brant has more reason than most girls to believe her father is a hero after he saved her life with a kidney transplant.

Laura, eight, has suffered kidney problems for the past three years and was desperately awaiting a transplant. But, just as all hope seemed lost, her father, James, turned out to be the match she needed.

After three years of heartache, Mr Brant, 41, and wife Marie, 39, are looking forward to their daughter living a healthy life.

Mr Brant, a painter and decorator, said: "I wanted to do this for Laura. I didn't really think about it. I just wanted her to be okay."

Last Sunday, while one of Mr Brant's kidneys was being removed at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, an ambulance was on stand-by to transport it the three miles to the RVI where Laura had her operation.

It has been a tough few years for the Brant family who first noticed there was a problem with Laura in 2003.

The couple, originally from North Yorkshire, moved to Newcastle three years ago and have been living next to the hospital, waiting for a donor.

The couple, who have two other children, Victoria, 14, and Samuel, four, both underwent tests to see if they could be donors.

Mr Brant said: "They discovered I had the best match - it wasn't perfect but pretty good."

In February, doctors realised Laura's kidney function had almost stopped and her father was admitted for the five-hour operation.

Mrs Brant said: "We are all doing fantastically well and the doctors have even told us Laura might be out by the end of the week."

Laura is now busy catching up on school work in hospital.

Doctors will have to keep a close eye on Laura for the rest of her life, but her mother and father are grateful to the hospitals' staff for their help.