A mum who knows first-hand the importance of organ donation is thrilled at news of an opt-out system.

Katy Taylor-Hamilton received a life-saving heart transplant nine months ago and is now living her life to the full.

Her grateful mum, Emma-Jane Taylor, said had it not been for the organ donor, their lives would be completely different today.

Prime Minister Theresa May made an announcement this week as she detailed a series of policy changes at the Conservative party conference.

It means people will be automatically signed up to be organ donors when they die, and they have to opt out if they don't wish to.

It aims to combat the deaths of hundreds of people every year, who die waiting for a transplant.

Emma-Jane is now urging Mrs May to make the legislation a priority, stressing that every day counts for those waiting.

"I'm very pleased to hear the news,2 said Emma-Jane, who lives at St Bees. "It means such a lot to people and their families who are in the position that Katy was just nine short months ago.

"If people are really against organ donation, they can opt out. A lot of people I have spoken to recently hadn't really thought that much about it. I suppose you don't until a situation touches you and you realise how important it is."

Since having her heart transplant earlier this year, 21-year-old Katy has amazed her family and friends with her determined fightback and just six weeks ago took part in the British Transplant Games.

Katy, who has Down’s Syndrome, had slight heart failure when she was 18 months old as a result of the chemotherapy drugs she had taken to battle leukaemia.

Her health deteriorated at the end of last year and she was placed on the active list for a transplant in December. She had this the following month and since then her health has vastly improved.

Emma-Jane hopes the new legislation will save hundreds of lives each year.

"It would save many more lives as there will be more organs available and hopefully people won't spend as long on waiting lists trying to get matches.

"My personal view is that anything of me that is of any use after I've gone, please feel free to recycle me.

"You can't take them with you, so reuse and recycle and hopefully save lives as one organ donor can save the lives of several people, the sight of two others and improve the life quality of many others."