Coronation Street actress Samia Ghadia is to marry her boyfriend of two years.

Long-term boyfriend property developer Matthew Smith proposed unexpectedly to Ghadia, who plays hairdresser Maria Sutherland in the soap, on New Year's Day and she happily accepted.

A spokesperson for Corrie said: "Everyone is delighted for Samia and Matt. They make the perfect couple."

RTE Guide reports that Ghadia recently announced that: "I'd love to be a young mum and have a large family. I don't want to wait too long."