Liz Dawn: My heart attack saved my life

Coronation Street legend Liz Dawn has revealed that her recent heart attack may have saved her life by bringing an underlying health problem to the fore.

The actress, who played Vera Duckworth in the soap, was taken ill in April while on holiday in Spain, undergoing treatment at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital on her return home.

And Liz - who suffers from the incurable lung disease emphysema - told the Mirror that she now felt better than she had done in ages.

"I am so happy and relieved to be on this medication for my heart," she said.

"I feel so much better. In a way having the heart attack was a blessing in disguise because it means the problem I had with my heart is now being managed."

The 73-year-old - who also revealed she was heading off on another overseas jaunt, this time to Norway - added: "I am looking forward to a nice holiday after all that has happened in the last few weeks."

Liz quit Coronation Street in 2007 due to her failing health, after 34 years of playing Vera Duckworth.

The character made a brief reappearance in as a ghost in 2010 when her screen husband Jack - played by the late Bill Tarmey - also died.