TV favourites Ant and Dec and ex-England football captain Alan Shearer have opened a new home for families of children receiving heart treatment in the North-East.

The trio unveiled Scott House, the latest addition to the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, which will help support the families of patients in the hospital's Children's Heart Unit.

The unit, which is a world leader in transplant surgery and innovative treatment, is one of only two of its kind in the country.

The £1.9 million project was funded through The Sick Children's Trust and Children's Heart Unit Fund (Chuf) and includes 18 en-suite bedrooms and a transplant flat.

Ant and Dec, patrons of Chuf, said: "We could not be prouder of the North East today and want to thank everyone who has helped or donated in any way from the bottom of our hearts.

"As patrons of Chuf, we are honoured to officially open Scott House to the families of the heart patients at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, who continue to save lives on a daily basis whilst offering world class care."

The name Scott House was chosen to recognise the achievements of Anne Scott, whose tireless fundraising on behalf of her two daughters led to the founding of the Chuf charity to support the children's heart unit.

Shearer, also a Chuf patron, said: "Some of the children are on the children's heart ward and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for a very long time, especially if they are waiting for a transplant or recovering from complex surgery.

"Being separated from their parents - and parents being separated from their children - is tremendously stressful and it has never been more important for us to support them on their difficult journey.