A woman from north Shropshire has been posthumously honoured for saving lives through organ donation at an awards ceremony.

Nicola Anderson's family received the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation, which was run by NHS Blood and Transplant, at the ceremony held in Staffordshire recently

Her husband, Ian Anderson, accepted on her behalf, and he admitted that being an organ donor was what she wanted to do.

"Nicola was a very caring person, she had registered herself as an organ donor and had kept her details updated," he said.

"Nicola had shared her wishes with me so when I was approached about organ donation I knew it was what Nicola wanted so I agreed and said of course we must go ahead.

“Through Nicola’s death she was able to help five people. Nicola donated her kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart and lungs. She was in her 40s and fit and healthy.

"Almost all of her organs went to younger people including her heart which went to a teenager. Three of Nicola’s recipients have written to us and it was very humbling to receive the letters.

“Through her working life Nicola took care of people working in hospices and she was a mother to our three children. Agreeing to organ donation was important as I knew it was what she would have wanted, her caring loving nature will now live on through others.”

Tony Shepherd, head of County Priory Group Affairs for the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, added: “We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS Blood and Transplant to run the Organ Donor Awards for a seventh year and to meet the inspirational families attending the ceremonies.

"Organ donation can clearly save lives and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have already donated their organs to save other people’s lives."