Border agency praises Corrie's Xin plot

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has praised Coronation Street for highlighting the issue of sham marriages in its latest storyline.

A new plot centring around show newcomer Xin Chiang (Elizabeth Tan) is at the forefront of the soap this week as Graeme Proctor plans to tie the knot with the waitress, allowing her to remain in the country once her student visa expires.

The Manchester Evening News now reports that the UKBA worked closely with Corrie bosses while the plotline was being devised.

Eddy Montgomery - North-West regional director of the UKBA - told the newspaper: "We are pleased to see the profile of our work raised and to see this sort of storyline being featured in the media.

"We have been really happy to work closely with Granada on this, as we have seen this cynical crime in action in the region."

It is currently unclear whether Graeme, Xin or fellow plotter Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) will face punishment or escape detection as the storyline continues over the coming weeks.

However, Craig Gazey - who plays Graeme - will leave Coronation Street later this year.