BOLTON’S first citizen has Signed Up To Save Lives.

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Martin Donaghy, met representatives from New Start, a charity based at the transplant unit at Wythenshawe Hospital in Victoria Square.

He and Gay Wharton, one of his two mayoresses, were among an estimated 60 Bolton people to sign the organ donation register in the square, with countless others taking away forms and leaflets to study at home.

Cllr Donaghy said: “This is a very worthwhile project and I would like to urge the citizens of this borough to become donors.

“Being around the people here has been eye-opening.

“There are four who simply would not be here today.

“All of them have been recipients of organs at some point in their lives.”

National Transplant Week is running until July 13, and The Bolton News is campaigning to get 5,000 more people to sign the organ donor register before the Transplant Games in the town which take place from August 7 to 10.

The mayor and mayoress also met John Roberts, Graham Brushett and Richard Sweeney, who have all undergone life-saving transplants.

Janice Taylor, manager of New Start, said: “The response has been very positive.

“The mayor and mayoress have been very helpful and supportive to the campaign.

“The Transplant Games are coming to Bolton and, hopefully, the mayor will be able to support that as well.

“Thank you to everyone in Bolton for coming out to support us.”

To Sign Up to Save Lives, go to the NHS organ donor register at organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 1232323 or text SAVE to 62323.