A YOUNGSTER from Haydock was one of the first people to get a sneak preview of the new £250m Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Freddy Barker, six, who is one of the young ambassadors for Alder Hey Children's Charity joined others last week on an exclusive tour.

One of the biggest children's hospitals in Europe, serving hundreds of St Helens families each year, Liverpool's Alder Hey is currently moving to its new home in Springfield Park, next to the former hospital.

Freddy – who was diagnosed with leukaemia aged three and has 11 weeks left of a three-and-a-half year treatment plan – thought the new hospital was fantastic and said it was "bigger than a volcano".

The Legh Vale pupil's favourite things were the play areas and seeing a 3D print out of a heart during the three-hour tour.

His mum Jayne said: "It's fantastic – it doesn't look clinical. The outdoor 'secret garden' playground is amazing.

"There's an interactive screen to relax children before they have surgery, which is great.

"I'm really proud of how Freddy has played a part in making it all come together."

Freddy, one of four siblings, has helped raise money for life-saving equipment, vital research and patient experience initiatives in the new Alder Hey.

He was shown around the hospital by members of Alder Hey's children and young people's design group, who were involved in designing the hospital.

The new facility has 270 beds and 16 operating theatres. The majority of children and their families will have their own room with en-suite facilities and park views. Each ward has a play area and a dedicated chef.

There are more parent and family areas including parent rooms, a 150-seat restaurant and a spiritual area.

Patients can check in and out using IT systems, which also provide entertainment, track patients and reduce paper records.

The hospital also features cutting-edge lifesaving equipment, including integrated operating theatres, an intra-operative 3T MRI scanner, CARTO system, Brain Lab navigation technology and an EOS imaging scanner.

Alder Hey Children's Charity and its young ambassadors will continue to raise funds to support the hospital. To donate go to alderheycharity.org.