A CWMBRAN shop owner who had a kidney transplant last year after years of dialysis says he still has people coming into his shop pledging to carry a donor card.

Lawrence Evans, 53, told his story to the Argus last July, saying he wanted more people to consider donating a kidney to improve the quality of life of others.

In April last year, he was "over the moon" when he received a call to say a suitable kidney had been found.

Before the operation, he spent 30 years, at a rate of eight hours, three times a week, hooked up to a dialysis machine.

For the first six months, his treatment was carried out at Cardiff Royal Infirmary, after which he did it at home, a total of 4,524 times.

This Christmas was the first he spent without the machine interrupting festivities.

He has put on weight and is now able to enjoy bananas, potatoes, tomatoes and chocolate.

Previously, these were out of bounds, as potassium in bananas would be dangerous for a man in his condition.

Seven months since Mr Evans appeared in the Argus, customers still come in to his Cane and Able gift shop in Cwmbran and say their views on donating organs have changed after reading his story.

He said: "They did not associate it with me before, but after the article they've said things like they will definitely carry a donor card now."

This year will also be a first for Mr Evans going on holiday without a dialysis machine.

He plans to travel abroad with wife Meryl to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in July, which will be more than a year since the life-changing transplant.