Emmerdale star Sammy Winward has started dating rugby player David Mercer.

The actress, who plays Katie Sugden on the show, has been secretly involved with Mercer for four months, despite recently complaining that she was struggling to find true love. Winward has now introduced David to her 18-month-old daughter Mia, indicating that the romance is getting serious.

"Sammy is incredibly happy with her new man," a source told the Sunday Mirror. "They clicked the minute they were introduced by friends. It's early days, so they've been desperately trying to keep their romance under wraps."