The record for the oldest kidney donor alive has been broken by an 83-year-old man, according to the NHS Blood and Transplant service.

Emphasising that there is no age limit on donating some organs for life-saving operations.

Not all donations are open to all ages, however, and Nicholas Crace, from Overton in Hampshire, made the donation after he found out that he was no longer able to donate blood after turning 70 and unable to donate bone marrow over 40.

What struck him the most was the plight of people waiting to receive a kidney, who have very restricted lives because they are unable to replace the vital organ. Mr Crace told BBC News: "Apart from going to hospital four times a week, they have a very restricted diet and can't travel so they live a pretty miserable life and it's so easy to make that life more agreeable simply by giving them a kidney."

It is hoped that Mr Crace's decision to donate will set an example to others of varying ages that may think they are too old to donate organs. As long as you are in good health, donating is perfectly safe, and a living kidney performs better, works quicker and lasts longer than one from a deceased donor, explained Sam Dutta, the surgeon who performed the operation at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Portsmouth.