Education Secretary Ed Balls said the government will help fund the national roll-out of a scheme launched by journalist Adrian Sudbury to educate young people about bone marrow donation.

Sudbury, a former Huddersfield Examiner reporter, died from leukaemia in August 2008 after rising to national prominence through chronicling his battle with leukaemia online.

In the final months before his death Sudbury visited Downing Street with a 13,000 signature petition asking that greater bone marrow education be offered to 17-18 year olds.