Christie's is the largest cancer hospital in Europe

The Teenage Cancer Trust has put up the cash to fund a team run by the University of Manchester and the Christie Hospital in Didsbury.

More than 2,000 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and the rate is increasing.

The trust's chairman, Dr Adrian Whiteson, said the centre would "drag cancer services into the 21st Century."

"Teenagers and young cancer patients have always been the most neglected group of cancer patients.

Teenagers show less survival improvements than children or adults Tim Eden, Cancer Research UK

The Dean of the University's medical school, Professor Andy Garner, is "delighted" Manchester will host the project.

"We have a genuine track record in cancer research, therapeutic development and patient care," he said.

He added that the hunt would now be on to find someone to chair the project.

Tim Eden, Cancer Research UK Professor of Paediatric Oncology at The University of Manchester and the Christie Hospital, said there needs to be much more research into teenage cancer.

"Teenagers show less survival improvements than children or adults, they have different types of cancer from children or adults and there has not been any proper classification of their cancers up to now."

The Christie Hospital is the largest cancer treatment centre in Europe.