CHERYL Fernandez-Versini returned home to Newcastle to announce plans for a multi-million pound facility for disadvantaged young people in the region.

The singer and X-Factor judge spent time at a Prince's Trust centre in her home city and said she'd found the visit really inspiring.

Along with the charity and her own foundation, Cheryl's Trust, she hopes to raise the money for the new centre that will help around 4,000 youngsters a year.

She said she has various fund raising events in mind and fully intends on asking fellow judge Simon Cowell to chip in.

"This has been something I've had in my mind passionately for the past three or four years," she said.

"I have tried various ways of opening a centre, that was my dream, but I've been rejected a lot for various reasons.

"It's been amazing and really inspiring, also motivating and even more than I was before because I've seen what this facility has created for people here."

The 31-year-old said Newcastle would always have a special place in her heart and growing up she could easily have been one of the young people using the centre.

"This is a special place in my heart, for various reasons, when I think about it I could have had a very different life. I could have been one of the people here and I was very fortunate to have even a career for this long.

"It's a very special thing to do and I feel fortunate that I've got the profile able to raise the awareness it needs."

The centre will support vulnerable young people and include the opening of a new music studio and media hub.