A NORTH-EAST man is looking forward to Christmas with his family after his brother gave him the gift of life.

John Carrick stepped in when his brother, Vincent, was told his only chance of surviving kidney disease was a suitable donor.

Vincent is one of a record number of patients at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital to have undergone transplants from living donors over the past 12 months.

This time last year, the 48-year-old was facing a bleak future until John, 44, was revealed as a match.

Now, nine months after the operation, it has been declared a success.

Vincent said: "At one point, I didn't know whether I was going to make it.

"I'm looking forward to spending a traditional family Christmas with my granddaughters, to celebrating New Year and to being able to go on holiday next year.

"Just a few months ago, I didn't have the strength to even pick my granddaughters up."

Vincent, of Davison Street, Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, has one daughter, Claire, 25, and two granddaughters, four-year-old Nicole, and Molly, who will be two in February.

He was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 16.