GORDON Bridewell from Devizes, Britain's longest surviving liver transplant patient, was delighted to be able to go to Downing Street on Tuesday to help celebrate the tenth anniversary of the NHS organ donor service.

Mr Bridewell, 59, underwent surgery for a new liver in 1975, at the age of 30, after a minor injury while playing five-a-side football revealed that he was suffering from liver cancer.

He said: "I got kicked quite badly on the leg and limped off. A few days later a lump came up and the wife insisted I went to the doctor about it.

"It needed a minor operation, but I didn't recover well from the anaesthetic and I was in Bath hospital for quite a long time. They thought it might have to do with an allergy to peanuts, but that was soon discounted."

Although Mr Bridewell soon felt well enough to return to work as a vehicle engineer in the workshops at police headquarters in Devizes, his GP, Dr Stephen Twiner, insisted he went to King's College Hospital in London for more tests. These discovered a liver tumour, which was subsequently removed. But tests revealed a second, inoperable tumour so he was registered for a transplant.

At the end of 1975, when Mr Bridewell was told he had only five months to live, a suitable liver was found and the transplant was a success.

Since then he has never looked back. In 1983 he took part in a 100-mile raft race on the River Wye. He still keeps fit and regularly cycles to work.

Mr Bridewell is in the top ten of the world's longest surviving liver transplant patients.

NHS UK Transplant is urging more people to sign up to be a donor. Call 0845 60 60 400 or visit www.uktransplant.org.uk