Simon who plays Steve McDonald in the soap Coronation Street met Nikki, the founder of Scotty's Little Soldiers at a fund raising event and since then has been very keen to get involved and help support the charity.

"I have a huge respect for all of our service men and women the job they do must be among the hardest in the world for them AND there families for this reason I am extremely proud to be a patron of Scottys little soldiers a wonderful charity to help some wonderful people."