Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz today (Friday) backed an NHS campaign encouraging people to sign up to the organ donation register, two years after giving away her own bone marrow.

Speaking on Organ Donation Week, the Labour mayor said only 16 per cent of adults in the borough are registered to donate organs in the event of their death.

Ms Fiaz has firsthand experience of the process, having donated 900ml of bone marrow in 2016 to a young girl in need of a transplant.

“Sadly, many opportunities are lost every year because families don’t know if their loved one wanted to be a donor or not,” she said.

“We can change things because there is no better feeling than giving something that may save a life.”

The mayor described herself as “proud” and “privileged” to have taken part in the “remarkably smooth and painless” operation.

Organ Donor Week runs until Sunday.

To join the NHS organ donor register, click here.