PREGNANT Coronation Street star Denise Welch has become the patron of a children's charity after hearing of heart-operation girl Sally Slater's fight for life.

Denise, who is expecting her second child next year, was so moved by Sally's plight that she has become the patron of the Children's Heart Unit Fund.

Denise was back in her native North-East to open a new wing of Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

The star, who plays Natalie Barnes in The Street, showed off her bump as she rehearsed a play in Newcastle.

Wearing beige trousers and matching smock over a white top, she looked the picture of health as she and actor husband Tim Healy posed for the cameras.

Denise cuddled children as she opened the £40,000 wing on the children's cardiac ward at the hospital.

She said: "Like the rest of the nation, I was very moved by the case of Sally Slater - perhaps more so because if was happening in my home town. One day I rang to order some flowers for her parents, and as I put the phone down it started to ring again and it was the Children's Heart Fund asking me to become patron. It seemed like a sign and I accepted immediately."

She said: "You don't want to think about there being any problems, but for any parent it is reassuring to know there is an excellent unit like this one and such a dedicated team of staff."

Sally contracted cardiomyopathy and her father made a desperate world-wide appeal for a heart donor.

At the 11th hour, Sally was saved when a donor heart was found.

The youngster is now back at home and attending school with her friends