TV favourites Ant and Dec are painting the Toon red after buying their favourite boozer.

The duo spent wild nights drinking in Jonny Ringo's, just off Newcastle's famous Bigg Market.

They decided they liked the bar so much they spent £175,000 buying a half share in it.

Renamed The Lodge, it reopened yesterday with an extended licence to 1am.

As he celebrated with pal Anthony McParlin, Dec, 27, tried his hand at pulling a pint but ended up swapping it for one filled earlier, by a barmaid.

Ant, also 27, said: "It's always been something we have dreamed of doing and to finally have our own bar, in our home town, is just fantastic. Dec's so excited he might even get a round in!

"We used to come in here drinking whenever we were back home in Newcastle and have always loved it.

"There have been a few times when we've staggered out of the door after a heavy session but we never thought we'd ended up owning the place."

The multi-millionaire duo have teamed up with nightclub operator Ultimate Leisure for the deal, which followed conversations between them during a visit to Newcastle at the end of last year.

It means Ant and Dec will be able to share in the profits of the bar.

Dec said: "We wanted to help create a relaxed, comfortable bar, to add to what is already a fantastic party city."