HOSPITAL bosses have been inundated with calls from worried relatives from Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley in the wake of the national organ scandal.

Wigan and Leigh hospitals set up a helpline just nine days ago to cope with the amount of expected inquires. The hospital trust has admitted that it has kept the organs of 21 adults -- but all with the consent of families.

Hearts and lungs of miners suspected of dying from industrial related illnesses are being kept by the hospitals at the request of the coroner or relatives with impending compensation claims. A total of 530 post mortem examinations were carried out last year by the Trust -- all at Leigh Infirmary.

Chief executive of Wigan and Leigh Health Services Trust Sheena Cumiskey said: "This trust provides a pathology service and therefore carries out post-mortems when these are required by the coroner and also where relatives have agreed to a hospital post-mortem. Organs may sometimes be removed temporarily as part of this. However we do NOT retain organs once the cause of death has been established, either for teaching or research purposes."

The helpline number is 01942 822172.