BURY-born Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, who plays Candice Stowe, is quitting the ITV soap for a pop career, it was revealed on Wednesday

Nikki, 21, will leave the series this autumn after six years. "It is time for me and Candice to leave the cobbles on a high," she told BBC Manchester.

Street producer Tony Wood said of the former Tottington High School pupil: "Nikki has been a real asset to the show and the writers have had great fun writing for Candice."