Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride — who played the part of the "legendary" Deirdre Barlow — has died.

Kirkbride, 60, who starred in the long-running soap for 44 years, died in a Manchester hospital after a short illness.

A statement on the ITV website said her husband David Beckett and the programme's cast and crew are "heartbroken and deeply saddened".

Executive producer Kieran Roberts said: “There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne’s passing.

“We know only too acutely how much Anne meant to the millions of people who watched her create the legendary character of Deirdre Barlow.

“She will be greatly missed by the Coronation Street team who share happy memories of working with her.

“We feel blessed and honoured to have known her. Our thoughts are with David and their family.”