Corrie's Hayley taking one-year break

Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh has requested a one-year break from the soap.

The actress, who plays Weatherfield favourite Hayley Cropper, has been filming an emotionally draining storyline recently - and insiders have claimed that she wants time away because she is feeling "worn out".

Hesmondhalgh is hoping to spend more time with her husband Ian Kershaw and six-year-old daughter Martha.

A show insider told The Mirror: "Julie approached producers about taking some time off and they were more than happy to agree because she's worked so hard for the show. We had enough time to come up with a superb way to write her out for however long we need to. Viewers will miss her but we can assure them she'll be back."

In a recent episode, transsexual Hayley discovered that she fathered a son twenty years ago. A forthcoming episode will see her being brutally attacked when her son discovers the truth.

Julie's final scenes, which see Hayley heading to Africa to help underprivileged children, will air next month.