A woman who received a heart transplant 16 years ago has visited her own heart on display at a museum.

Jennifer Sutton, 38, from Ringwood in Hampshire, was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy at the age of 22. She was placed on the transplant waiting list and received a new heart in 2007.

Sutton gave permission for her heart to be used for educational purposes after her transplant. It is now on display at the Hunterian Museum in London.

Sutton visited the museum to see her heart for the first time. She said it was "incredibly surreal" to see the organ that had once kept her alive.

"It's quite nice too - it's like my friend," she said. "It kept me alive for 22 years and I'm quite proud of it really."

Sutton said she hoped her story would encourage people to sign up to the organ donor register.

"I'm so grateful to the person who donated their heart to me," she said. "I'm living proof that organ donation can save lives."

Credit: BBC News