A TV historian has backed a children’s emergency department appeal.

Dan Snow has backed the fundraising appeal for a new emergency and trauma department at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

The BBC presenter, who has a history slot on The One Show and his own digital history channel Dan Snow’s History Hit, is set to donate all proceeds from an upcoming event organised by the ‘Friends of Brockenhurst’ to the cause.

The event is to take place at Brockenhurst Village Hall on Friday, October 12, from 7pm.

He will hold a talk covering everything from the war zones of Syria and the Viking churches of Greenland, to the last British Dambuster and Maori historians.

The evening will also see an auction and other fundraising activities as Southampton Hospital Charity and The Murray Parish Trust look to close in on the remaining £500,000 of a £2m target.

Snow said: “I am really looking forward to this event in Brockenhurst where I will be talking about the people, places and things that I’ve seen in 15 years of making history.

“I’m also pleased to be lending my support to the fantastic children’s emergency and trauma department appeal as it now reaches its final stages of fundraising.”

Work on the £5.1m children’s emergency and trauma department, which is expected to see more than 30,000 youngsters every year from across the south of England, began in April.

It will include an eight-bed observation area, 11 glass-fronted and soundproof cubicles and on-hand x-ray facilities, as well as observed play areas and a short stay unit.

Charlotte Otter, major gifts fundraising manager at Southampton Hospital Charity, added: “We are extremely grateful to Dan and the Friends of Brockenhurst.”

Tickets for the event are on general sale from Pot Pourri, 60 Brookley Road.

For more information, contact: info@friendsofbrockenhurst.org.uk.