Two Northern Irish firms have picked up a contract to build five mental health hospitals on Merseyside.

A joint venture of Farrans and Heron has won an £85m deal to build new mental health facilities on Merseyside.

The work, on behalf of the Mersey Care NHS Trust and Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership, will comprise five new mental health hospitals across Merseyside. Two of the hospitals will be worth £20m each, with the final three worth a total of £35m. The work has been advertised as being worth between £75-85m.

The two Northern Irish firms have four years to complete the jobs, with a possible one-year extension if required.