Corrie star fights lung disease

Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn is suffering from the incurable lung disease, chronic emphysema, it has been reported.

13:52 18 September 2005

Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn is suffering from the incurable lung disease, chronic emphysema, it has been reported.

The 65-year-old actress, who plays Corrie favourite Vera Duckworth, was diagnosed with the disease 18 months ago, the Sunday Mirror reports.

Known as a smokers' disease, chronic emphysema leaves the lungs inflamed and can eventually cause death.

Dawn, who used to be a heavy smoker, gave up the habit after a cancer scare and has subsequently helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to help cancer sufferers.

It is reported that the actress, who has starred in Coronation Street since 1974, has had to receive oxygen on the set of the soap when her breathing has become difficult as a result of her illness.

But the star insisted that she was "doing really well" and told the Sunday Mirror that her doctor had prescribed medication that allowed her to continue acting in Corrie.

"He's worked out a medication that means I can carry on doing what I love - which is being a mum and a grandma and working on Coronation Street," said Dawn.