Rock legend Robert Plant played a concert in Newcastle on Monday night, to help a disabled Northumberland woman walk again.

The former Led Zeppelin frontman heard of the case of 23-year-old Lianne Crowe, who was partially paralysed in a road crash.

When he was told pioneering treatment could not be offered to rock fan Lianne in Britain, he put two VIP tickets for the Tyneside concert up for auction on the Internet.

A couple from America paid almost �3,500 to see the singer perform in Newcastle, with the money going to help Lianne get private treatment abroad.

Melissa and Brett Ames paid more than �3,000

Brett and Melissa Ames from Washington DC, said they were happy to help Lianne and see their hero in concert at the same time.

Mr Ames said: "I was in a car wreck when I was 17 and couldn't move my legs for a while, so I know what it must be like for Lianne."

Lianne, from Hexham, said: "It is so good that people have come together like this to help me.

"I get a lot of local support from friends and family, but this is just fantastic."

Robert Plant said: "I was very surprised when I heard that treatment for Lianne was not available in the United Kingdom.

"It is really quite unbelievable."