'Coronation Street' cast sent home early after riots

Filming on Coronation Street finished early yesterday due to the rioting in parts of Manchester.

The soap's staff were sent home to avoid getting caught up in the escalating violence and because police helicopters and sirens were causing too much disruption on set.

A Coronation Street spokesperson told WENN: "We did actually just close a couple of filming units a little bit early due to the disruption in Manchester."

Michael Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in the soap, tweeted last night: "Just been sent home from work! Stay away from Manchester please!"

Brooke Vincent, who portrays Sophie Webster, tweeted: "As if everyone's been sent home from work!! This is stupid now! I can't believe that 10 mins down the road is getting destroyed yet nobody can do anything and stay inside!!! I feel so worthless, it's not cool."

Meanwhile, Antony Cotton, who stars in the soap as Sean Tully, added: "Devastated for my city and my fellow Mancunians. I LOVE Manchester - the GREATEST city in the world."

The rioting began in Tottenham over the weekend, before spilling over to Croydon, Clapham Junction, Peckham, Woolwich and other areas of London on Monday. Violence and looting have since been reported in Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Leicester, Manchester and Nottingham.

Journalists and cameramen from Sky News, ITN and the BBC were attacked on Monday evening when London erupted into mass looting and violence.

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