Walford star not ready to start a family

EastEnders star Kara Tointon has no immediate plans to have children with her boyfriend and former co-star James Alexandrou.

The actress, who plays new mother Dawn Swann, finds the prospect of parenthood "scary" and was initially nervous about filming scenes with babies on the set of the BBC One soap.

"[James] is very romantic and we're very happy. But I have no experience with babies, so the whole 'mum' thing's been a bit scary to be honest," Kara told The Sun. "I work with twins on set and although it is a really good little insight into being a mum and I love it, the best thing is I get to give them back at the end of the day.

"They're beautiful but it can take ages to do a scene because just as you're about to film, one of them starts crying or being sick or whatever. It ends up taking 20 minutes instead of two."

"I told the director I was worried I'd look awkward with them because I don't know what I'm doing," she continued. "It's such hard work so I can only imagine what it's like to be a real mum."

Kara is nominated for the Most Popular Actress gong at next week's National Television Awards.