A campaign has been launched to encourage more people to join the organ donor register.

The Stoke Gifford-based national transplant organisation has started the first UK-wide campaign urging people to leave their organs behind after they die to improve the lives of others.

New research carried out for NHS Blood and Transplant has found that only 33 per cent of people in the region have joined the register, despite 96 per cent of people saying they would be willing to accept an organ if they needed one.

There are 603 people waiting for an organ transplant in the South West and 29 people died last year whilst waiting for a transplant.

Currently, 1,670,674 South West names are listed on the register. The study has also found that about six per cent of people who think their name is on the NHS organ donor register have not actually signed up.

Almost half (45 per cent) of respondents mean to sign up to leave their organs after death but have not got around to it.

Lynda Hamlyn, chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Many people have told us that they just need a nudge to motivate them to join the organ donor register and commit to helping someone live after their death.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "Each year, organ donors transform the lives of thousands of people.

"But despite this, three people die every day while waiting for a transplant.

"I would urge everybody who supports organ donation to show it by signing up to the organ donor register and discussing their wishes with their families."