ATHLETES from the region have helped Britain win the 15th World Transplant Games.

At least six North-East competitors were among the 72 medal winners in Canada, helping Britain come first with 199 medals, ahead of the US, second on 142, and Australia, third with 115.

Endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, the World Transplant Games features nine days of sporting events.

The British team of 113 athletes joined 1,550 others from 49 countries, all of whom had undergone a transplant

Peter Griffin, a member of the Transplant Sports Association of Great Britain and the British team manager, said: "Words can not express how delighted we are that the British team was so successful at this year's games."

In the UK alone, 5,000 people are waiting for a transplant and a key aim of the games is to persuade more people to carry donor cards.

Mr Griffin said: "By attending the games, we aim to put the spotlight on organ donation. We want people to talk about our success and for families to discuss together the importance of registering on the NHS national donor register."

Medal winners from the North-East included heart transplant recipients Adrian Woodcock, from County Durham (gold, badminton singles, silver, tennis singles) and Graham Marsh (silver, 100m track) from Tyne and Wear.

Other winners included kidney transplant recipients Denise Baker, from Darlington (bronze 400m freestyle swimming), Dawn Fenton, of Wingate, east Durham (bronze, shot putt), and Martin Graham, West Allotment, Tyne and Wear (silver, 5000m track).

For further information, visit www.uktransplant.org.uk or ring 0845 60 60 400.