Jack P Shepherd 'gets engaged to girlfriend'

Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd has got engaged to his long-term girlfriend, it has been reported.

The actor, who plays David Platt in the ITV1 soap, proposed to Lauren Shippey with a £3,000 diamond ring and the pair - who have a two-year-old daughter - are planning a wedding for next year.

Sammy Milewski recently gave birth to Shepherd's son following a one-night stand with him last year.

A friend told the News of the World: "Jack and Lauren are both delighted. It has been a very difficult time for them with Sammy having the baby. Lauren's been mature and understands Jack made a terrible mistake. Now he has made the ultimate statement that he wants to be with her for the rest of his life.

"Jack's personal life mirrors fiction half the time with him having a one-night stand and now fiction is mirroring his personal life with David getting married and Jack planning his nuptials too.

"He's splashed out on a stunning ring for Lauren. They both see this as a turning point and feel it is time to move on."

Shepherd is reportedly refusing to acknowledge his newborn son.