PRINCESS ANNE was in the region yesterday to visit a hospital and a young offenders' institution.

She opened a new cardiac suite at Darlington Memorial Hospital, where she met staff.

The £1.3m unit was paid for by local fundraising and a National Lottery grant.

Previously, patients with suspected heart problems had to travel to Middlesbrough or Newcastle to have their condition diagnosed, and faced longer waits for tests.

The unit also has facilities for advanced heart treatments to be carried out, again reducing the need for patients to travel.

Senior cardiologist Dr Jerry Murphy said: "People will only have to wait between two to three weeks for treatment.

"We are also adding a new facility which will allow us to put in pacemakers."

Alan Charlton, chairman of the Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital, said: "Through our fundraising, we have purchased three pieces of equipment for the unit. We also provide some services for it, including the voluntary driver service."

The friends hold fundraising events throughout the year, including a summer fair on July 1. They have a shop in the hospital and 30 ladies knit baby clothes for sale.

This year, they have provided more than £200,000 of equipment for the hospital.

The Princess Royal also saw how prisoners with bad records are given help to get on the road back to a useful life.

She was shown round the high-intensity training unit at Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, at Barnard Castle, County Durham.

She spoke to some of the inmates, aged 18 to 21, who are taught how to hold down jobs after release.

Deputy governor John Fawcett said those selected volunteer for the hard regime, but they know it will give them a better chance in life. It has chalked up an excellent success rate.

The princess heard how some of the prisoners are trusted to start jobs near the end of their sentences, and a number are then taken on full-time.

One prison officer said the princess, who is patron of the Butler Trust which looks after the welfare of prisoners, seemed impressed with the techniques being used.

Trust chairman Sir Trevor Brooking also toured the establishment and spoke to inmates.