This is the first picture of Charity Tate's shock return to ITV's rural soap Emmerdale.

Charity - played by 34-year-old Emma Atkins - makes her much-anticipated comeback to the show wearing a wedding dress as she bolts from her ceremony in a Durham church.

The identity of her groom, however, is being kept a closely-guarded secret until the episode airs on October 1.

Atkins, who returned to filming last week, said: "I am incredibly excited to be continuing Charity's journey and feel privileged to have been asked back. It is a new chapter in both my life and Charity's and I couldn't wait to start work."

Emmerdale series producer Gavin Blyth added: "Charity's dramatic return will have repercussions throughout the village. Viewers are in for a real treat."

> 'Emmerdale' releases first Charity teaser