Prince Harry has begun a visit to the North East by meeting veterans who have received mental health support from a military charity.

Harry attended an event hosted by Walking With The Wounded in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, where he discussed issues faced by ex-servicemen and women.

He arrived at the Gateshead Civic Centre to a cheering crowd and shook hands with members of the public, who presented him with flowers.

Harry, who arrived in a black Range Rover and wore a navy blue shirt and khaki trousers, was met by dignitaries including Ed Parker, the CEO of Walking With The Wounded, before being taken inside the building to talk to beneficiaries of the charity's projects.

Julie Cain, 53, from Byker, and Maria Scott, 46, from Gateshead, said they had been waiting to see the Prince since 8am.

Draped in Union flags, they gave Harry flowers with a picture of Diana, Princess of Wales attached to the bouquet.

Ms Cain said: "We're big royalists, but we love Harry especially."

Talking about the work Harry is doing for Walking With The Wounded's mental health projects, Ms Scott said: "He's giving these people a voice and they've struggled to be heard in the past. I think what he's doing is amazing."

The visit to Gateshead is the first of three engagements Harry will attend on Tuesday.

Later, he will team up with former Olympic athletes Steve Cram and Jonathan Edwards as they train runners taking part in the London Marathon for mental health charity Heads Together.

The day will conclude at Virgin Money Head Quarters, one of the official partners of Heads Together, where staff, runners, and representatives from the campaign's eight charity partners will be taking part in a charity day.

Harry spent around an hour talking to people involved with Head Start, which provides mental health support to ex-service personnel, and Project Nova, which identifies and supports veterans involved in anti-social and criminal activity.

Speaking to the group, he commended the charity on its work. He said: "What you guys are doing here is truly fantastic.

"There are guys and girls who, because of you, have been taken out of an incredibly dark place and offered a train track heading in one direction.

"They have turned their lives around and can be recognised for the service that they gave and the people that they are, rather than the mistakes they made."

Adam Petson, 39, from Middlesbrough, talked to Harry about the support he received from Project Nova after becoming involved in crime after leaving the Army.

He said: "He was very charismatic, down-to-earth, nice, he really did listen. It's lovely seeing someone taking a real interest, especially someone of his stature.

"He does have a passion for it, you can see that in the way he speaks, his eye contact, he wants to know your story but also what he can do to influence changes in the system."

Ed Parker, CEO of Walking With The Wounded, added: "I'm delighted to be able to show him, this is the coal face, this is where the work is being done.

"Prince Harry is a veteran himself, this means an enormous amount to him.

"For us, as an organisation where he's giving us some support, it makes an enormous amount of difference. He's a very, very passionate man about this."