Double blow for Corrie's Shobna Gulati

Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati has received a double blow after being dumped by her boyfriend and axed from the soap.

Rumours last weekend suggested that many of the show's stars could be facing the axe, with The Sun later confirming that Shobna's character, Sunita Alahan, would be written out.

The actress was told the news by producers shortly after her DJ boyfriend Chris Nelson ditched her for being "too clingy".

"Talk about hitting a girl when she's down. And Shobna is really down at the moment," a friend on the soap set told the Daily Star.

"She was so upset about splitting from Chris, but felt she had her work to fall back on. Now that's gone."

Shobna has been dating Chris for 18 months, but the pair never decided to take their relationship further by moving in together.

The friend added, "Chris didn't want to get too tied down. Now he has decided their relationship has run its course."

A Coronation Street source insisted, "She will find work because she's a good actress."