GEORDIE television fav-ourite Declan Donnelly celebrated his 30th birthday with a surprise party at a tiny top-floor Chinese restaurant in a country village.

Dec partied until the small hours with his best friend Ant McPartlin, 29, at the Princess Garden, in Ponteland, Northumberland.

Dec believed he was going for a quiet meal, but packed inside were friends and family.

Restaurant manager Kevin Chan said: "He was over the moon when he found out. We shut the restaurant so that Dec could have a private party.

"I've known Dec for years, he's a really good friend. It was a pleasure to have him here. Everyone had a really great time."

Guests tucked into a banquet with wine, followed by Dec's favourite tipple, a Gatsby - Southern Comfort with ginger and a dash of lime.

At 1.30am Dec, accompanied by a mystery female friend holding a bunch of birthday balloons, left the restaurant looking tired but happy.

He said: "It's been an absolutely brilliant night. Now I'm looking forward to my 40th birthday."

Ant and Dec first appeared on television as PJ and Duncan in 1990, in the Newcastle-based children's drama Byker Grove.

They left the show in 1994 to launch a musical career, then returned to television to host a string of award-winning top rated shows.

The pair were yesterday named the nation's favourite children's television stars of all time.