SIR Alex Ferguson has said his parents, who both died from cancer, would have been proud of Govan's new Macmillan service.

Govan's most famous son returned to his home town to unveil the latest addition to the cancer charity's Pearce Institute service.

He hailed the work being carried out by the Pearce team, which has helped more than 16,000 people in Glasgow who are affected by cancer claim £40 million of benefits.

Sir Alex said: "It's having somewhere to go. That wasn't the case in my parents' day.

"Macmillan has all these young people with energy and enthusiasm who obviously enjoy their jobs and are really dedicated to helping people, making sure they don't go in to debt or lose their house.

"People are maybe a bit hesitant or a bit reluctant to come forward and ask for help but they need to be getting the very best help that they can.

"My parents had the best help available to them at that time but they would have been pleased to know that this was here now, in the heart of the community."

The Pearce Institute cafe has recently undergone a makeover and Macmillan has installed a pod, with support from Glasgow City Council, to give people a private space to speak to Macmillan Benefits Advisors and assessments have with the Improving the Cancer Journey team.

Sir Alex spent Thursday morning at the centre, where he spoke to a packed hall before meeting Macmillan staff and service users.

His father Alexander died from lung cancer in 1979 and his mother Elizabeth died from the disease in 1986. Both were in their 60s.

Sir Alex spoke fondly of the Pearce Institute and recalled how he used to kick a football around the building's main hall. He also remembered his grandmother sitting down to tea in the tea room.

He said: "I'm proud to see all the things that have happened here.

"This is a fantastic building that used to be the very heart of Govan. I really hope the improvements here continue.

"You look around and you see things like the wood panelling and you just don't get quality like that any more. People don't have time to build like this, like they used to.

"It's a historic building and I hope it goes from strength to strength, particularly with initiatives like this one from Macmillan."

The former Manchester United manager was piped from the hall by two young local pipers, Scott McCormick, 12, and 11-year-old Thomas Rankine.

The two young Govan boys chose High Road to Gairloch to play for their football hero.

Thomas said: "I'm a Manchester United fan so I know all about Sir Alex and it was exciting to meet him.

"I was a bit nervous going up on stage but when you start playing you just hurl through it."

Elspeth Atkinson, Director of Macmillan, said: “The Pearce Institute has been a valued community space for years and we are delighted to be working in partnership to bring much needed cancer information and support into a venue where locals feel relaxed and at home.

"Having Sir Alex Ferguson, who knows the Pearce so well and also unfortunately has personally experienced loved ones being affected by cancer, is such an honour and highlights the importance of this partnership.

“We know from the success of similar services in Libraries across Glasgow that people benefit from local easily accessible services and it’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of our supporters in Glasgow who raise so much money for us that we are able to establish another vital service.”