A NEW law has been passed to create the first opt-out organ donation system in the UK.

The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act will mean people not wanting to give up their organs after their death must sign a register but relatives will still be given a say.

Ministers hope a soft "opt-out" scheme, praised by medical experts and charities, will drive up transplant rates and save lives.

The Welsh Assembly hope the new legislation will increase the number of donors by around a quarter.

There are around 226 people in Wales waiting for an organ transplant.

The Evening Times has led an award-winning campaign to persuade the Scottish Government to introduce a similar opt-out donor system.

The Government has said it will await an evaluation of the system in Wales, due to begin in 2015, before making any decision on opt-out.

However, charities have warned the delay will "cost lives". Around 700 people in Scotland are currently waiting for a transplant, yet more than half of the population is not on the register.

Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones described the law as "historic" and said: "The Act has had a long genesis through committees and through the Assembly. It happens to be the most significant piece of legislation the Assembly has ever passed."

The law will apply only to over-18s who die in the country if they have lived in there for more than 12 months.

A BMA spokesperson said: "This is great news which will hopefully give our MSPs here in Scotland the confidence to consider a similar change to the organ donation system."