A campaigner who played a vital role in pushing through a groundbreaking legislation in organ donation has spoken of how she thinks the law will save lives.

Pat Carroll, 65, lost her daughter, Natalie Carroll in 2014 when she was only 38 years old after her organs had become damaged by Diabetes Type 1.

Pat, who has lived in Aveley her whole life, offered to give Natalie her kidney but she was unable to as her daughter also needed a pancreas.

Since Natalie’s death four years ago, Pat has made it her mission to raise awareness of organ donation and has come a lot further than she expected.

In February this year, a bill called ‘Max’s Law’ - named after a boy who survived after receiving a heart transplant - made it through the House of Commons with MPs on both sides of the chamber voting in favour it.

This law will mean that people are automatically enrolled onto the register and have to ask to be removed if they want to keep their organs after they die.

Remembering when the bill was voted on, Pat said: “I was in floods of tears when I heard them say ‘yes’.

“To think, four years ago I just wanted to raise awareness and now we have gotten this far.

“This change in law is going to save so many lives.”

Pat became an organ donor herself after she gave her kidney away to 22-year-old Joe Carmana from Wickford last November, who was in the same ward as her daughter Natalie had been.

Pat said: “I couldn’t do it for Natalie so I wanted to do it for Joe. He’s such a courageous young man.”

Pat’s daughter also donated her heart valves to a young girl and gave her liver to medical science after she died.

The retired retail worker has since been nominated for a Civic Award, been invited to the Queen’s Garden Party and is hoping to join the Transplant Games - an athletics event for donors and donees.

She has been working closely with Thurrock MP and Health Minister, Jackie Doyle-Price, and other Thurrock councillors to raise awareness of organ donation and is hosting a stall in the Civic Centre on March 20.

But her passion for the issue stems from the loss of her daughter.

Pat added: “Through losing Natalie, she has given me the strength to do what I am doing now."