THE brother of a York kidney patient has offered to go under the knife to offer him a life-saving transplant.

Leonard Marshall has agreed to donate a kidney to his brother Michael, who has already had two failed transplants and fears he will die this year without a third.

Michael, 37, of Alcuin Avenue, Tang Hall, was first featured in the Evening Press in 1997 after his first kidney transplant failed and a number of close relatives had tests to see if they could be donors.

Leonard proved compatible. At first he chose not to donate because of problems in his own life, but now he has made the decision to help his brother.

Leonard told the Evening Press: "This is something I want to do for my brother.

"He is very poorly and I want to do this to save his life. It's just all the waiting that is difficult, but I am happy to do this for him now."

Michael is a former landscape gardener and is on daily dialysis, growing steadily weaker. He also has a heart problem, but that cannot be treated until he has a new kidney, and he is being treated for depression. He has also had all his teeth removed because of his condition.

Michael added: "This transplant is very important to me, it will save my life. I've been on dialysis for nine years now and I'm not getting any better."

His partner Nancy said: "We are really grateful to Leonard for offering to do this for Michael. It will save his life. This is our last hope. We are desperate."

If the match was still appropriate treatment on the NHS would take place at the Yorkshire transplant centre at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

A spokeswoman for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, where Mr Marshall is treated, said: "We have a very active live donor transplant service and would very much support live donor transplants."

But the family is keen to go privately and top consultant Madey Hakim at the Cromwell Hospital in London said he has spoken to the family about the latest situation. He said the operations would cost £50,000 which the Marshalls are now trying to raise.

Anyone wanting to register as a donor should call 0845 60 60 400.

Updated: 08:39 Monday, March 18, 2002