Corrie's Liz Dawn suffers heart attack

Members of the Coronation Street cast have rallied round to lend to support to former star Liz Dawn after she suffered a heart attack.

The 73-year-old soap legend, who played Vera Duckworth in the show for 34 years, was rushed to casualty on Monday after complaining of chest pains at her home in Whitfield, Greater Manchester.

Her husband Donald Ibbotson later confirmed to the Mirror that she had had a 'slight heart attack', adding: "She is all right."

Stars of the show have clamoured to send their good wishes to Liz, who suffers from the incurable lung disease emphysema.

Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts, said: "She is a real trouper, she'll get through this," while Mark Eden, who played Alan Bradley, added: "Liz is a great woman, I'm sure she'll pull through."

Actor Lee Boardman, who starred as Weatherfield drug dealer Jez Quigley, also sent the actress a note of support, saying: “I’m so sorry to hear about Liz. She’s a wonderful woman and we all send our love.”

Liz left Coronation Street in 2007 due to her health issues, with Vera making a memorable exit from the show as she died in her sleep.

Since then she made a brief reappearance in 2010 as the ghost of her character as her screen husband Jack - played by Bill Tarmey - made his departure from the show.