Jane and Jonathan Mitchell are beginning married life together sharing more in common than most newlyweds.

Lucky Jonathan received one of the most unusual wedding presents from his bride-to-be - the gift of one of her kidneys.

The 44-year-old, from Uckfield, had to have both his kidneys removed because of disease.

When Jane, 46, discovered he needed a transplant, she had no hesitation in offering one of her own kidneys, but doctors told her because she was not a blood relative there was little chance it would be the right match for Jonathan.

However, tests proved they were a suitable match and the pair went in for surgery at St George's Hospital in London.

Jane said: "I never thought twice about giving Jonathan my kidney. I was amazed we were a match, we were incredibly lucky, it felt like a miracle and I thought it must be meant to be."

Jonathan was worried about Jane undergoing the operation and tried to talk her out of it.

She also received counselling from hospital staff, but would not be dissuaded.

Jane knew her then-fiance could face years of dialysis, waiting for a suitable kidney to become available from another donor.

Now Jonathan is enjoying a new lease of life as a result of the transplant and feeling better than he has done for years.

The couple celebrated with family and friends at their wedding in Ditchling. Jane, who has two children from a previous marriage, was attended by her daughter Lucy, 17, and given away by her son, Rory, 15, at the service at the Unitarian Meeting House in the village.

Jane and Jonathan are both folk singers, who perform around Sussex, and the marriage was a country-style ceremony with folk music and Morris dancing.

Two days after the wedding, Jonathan suffered a minor setback and was admitted to hospital for checks to ensure his body was not rejecting the kidney. Fortunately, he has now recovered.

Jane said: "I get pretty sore sometimes because of the surgery, but I have never regretted it, not once. I love Jonathan and it is as simple as that.

"I have been a blood donor since I was 18 and I think if your are fit and healthy you should give things like that if you have the chance."

She added: "We had some laughs at the wedding about swapping hearts and kidneys. I tell Jonathan instead of stealing my heart he stole my kidney and he jokes about it, assuring people he proposed to me before he knew I was giving my kidney."

A spokesman for UK Transplant, a support organisation for the transplant community, said: "Most live kidney transplants are between blood relations but for some reason, which medics can't explain, it is recognised that donations between married couples are more successful than might be expected."