A bone marrow donor whose father was saved by a transplant is calling on people to sign up as stem cell donors - particularly gay men.

Mark Clements signed up to the Anthony Nolan register in 2011 after his dad’s life was saved by a bone marrow donation from a stranger on the same register.

The 28-year-old wants to dispel the myth that gay men cannot become donors after donating his bone marrow to a stranger three years ago.

He said: "If my dad hadn’t become unwell, I’d never have known about the register and been able to give a stranger that chance of life.

"That’s why I want to spread the word to more people – particularly gay young men like me, who often assume that they can’t be donors - that you can do something about cancer, simply by joining the Anthony Nolan register.”

Mark’s dad, Dave, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2011 after experiencing problems with fatigue.

Dave underwent chemotherapy treatment and his family was told that his best hope of a cure was a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant.

Only 1 in 900 people on the Anthony Nolan register will be a match for someone in a five year period.

Mark, an accountant living in North Watford, said: "We were so incredibly lucky. It was only then that I thought, ‘Wow - there is someone out there who is saving my dad’s life. This is big, someone we’ve never met is doing it for my dad and for all of us.

"When I got the call to say I was a match it was a bit overwhelming, I called my dad and I could tell it meant a lot to him that I was going to help someone like him. It was a very proud moment, just absolutely fantastic."

Mark went on to donate his bone marrow in November 2013.

Six months later, he received an anonymous letter from his recipient to say they were doing well.

Now Mark is backing World Cancer Day on February 4, which will see Cancer Research UK working with three of the UK’s leading cancer charities to make a bigger difference to fighting the disease.