Neil Mellor has become the second player of the day to commit to a new contract at Deepdale.

He's signed an almost identical extension deal to the one penned by Sean St. Ledger earlier today.

The 25-year-old agreed a deal this afternoon to extend his North End stay until the summer of 2012.

The club opted to secure his services for the long term rather than taking up the option of an automatic one-year extension.

Mellor signed from Liverpool in August 2006, with Preston becoming his second permanent club after earlier loan spells at West Ham and Wigan.

Though his early days as a North Ender were beset by a knee injury, he has since become a true goalscoring threat with a great strike ratio.

His 16 PNE strikes have come from just 28 starts and 34 substitute appearances in all competitions.

Mellor said: "Obviously I'm delighted. It's always a bit of a worrying time when you're in the last year of your contract and I've got a young family so I was desperate to try and secure myself here at Preston.

"Last year I really enjoyed it - certainly when the new manager came in I was really enjoying training - and from what I can see he's trying to do.

"I want to be a part of his plans.

"I was delighted when I heard that a contract offer was on the table, and as soon as it was I was desperate to sign it."