TWO Warrington residents given a new lease of life after organ transplants are bidding to add to their medal collections with a Liverpool team this week.

Steve Deakin and Janette McKean will be competing with the Liverpool Transplant Sports Team in the British Transplant Games, which run at Bath University from today, Thursday, until Sunday.

The Liverpool team's 45-year-old manager, Deakin, of Great Sankey, has had previous medal success in swimming events and will be taking part in swimming, squash and the discus at veteran's level this time round.

McKean, aged 41, of Orford, will be competing in badminton tomorrow, Friday, hoping to add to her gold medal success in the event of four years ago.

Civil servant Deakin competed in his first British Transplant Games in 1985, a year after receiving a kidney off his father.

He had a second kidney transplant in 1990 and swam the English Channel as part of a relay team the following year.

McKean also had her kidney transplant in 1990.

Deakin said: "Having an organ transplant gives you a new lease of life and this weekend's event is mainly aimed at promoting the organ transplant register.

"Some of the competitors take the event very seriously, especially with a trip to Thailand on the cards for those selected to the national team for the World Transplant Games next year.

"I don't put myself in the category of competing seriously. I just like the training and it's very important to keep fit."

* Juliet Harris, of Lymm, who has also had a kidney transplant, is expected to be representing Manchester in the Games.