NEW regulations that make it easier for people to donate life-saving organs have been welcomed by health chiefs.

Changes under the Human Tissue Act, which came into force today, mean relatives will no longer have the right to overturn someone's wish to donate.

Health chiefs said the wishes of about one in ten potential organ donors were overturned every year by grieving family members Julie Jeffrey, NHS UK Transplant's regional co-ordinator, said: "We do welcome the changes. It is a gift of life and when somebody has died it is possible for them to give life to another person."

In the Yorkshire area there are 618 people registered for a transplant - including 400 waiting for a kidney and 50 waiting for a liver.

Some 287 people received a donated organ between April 2005 and March this year. But last year, 65 also died while on the waiting list.

There are also more than 1.25 million people in Yorkshire and the North - or 21 per cent of the population - registered with the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Mrs Jeffrey said that in some circumstances, if the family strongly objected, the organs might not be removed.

She said: "Previously we had to seek a lack of objections from family members for donations to go ahead.

"Although the law has changed, our practice will probably not change. We will still speak to family members after someone has died.

"If someone is overruling the deceased person's wishes we will go and speak to them about the implications of that."

Nationwide there are about 8,000 people waiting for transplants, while 3,000 people receive donated organs each year. But about 500 people die each year while on the waiting list.

Mrs Jeffrey said: "I think it will increase the potential numbers of people who could have kidney transplants.

"Hopefully, it will have an impact.

"The message to people really is to sign-up to the organ donation register but also to talk to their relatives about it."

SAM SOUTHGATE asked people in York what they thought of the new regulations.

Agnes McMonagle, 38, of Blossom Street, York, said: "I think if you have said you are going to do it, you should be allowed to it. The only reason people tend to override people's wishes is on religious grounds."

Angela Feather, 20, of Bishopthorpe, said: "If someone wants to give their organs, then I think they should be allowed to do that.

"They can't change their mind when they are dead so that is what they want to happen."

Jonathan Freckleton, 20, of Copmanthorpe, said: "I think if that's what you wanted when you were alive, your family should respect your wishes.

"They do not change people's wills when they are dead, although I can understand why they might not want it to happen."

Thom Feeney, 20, of the Hull Road area of York, said: "If that is the person's opinion when they are alive it should be respected.

"Personally I would not consider it at all, but if that is somebody's view it should be respected."