CORONATION Street's Kirk and Tyrone left Weatherfield behind to help kick off a new season of banger racing.

Alan Halsall, who plays car mechanic Tyrone and Bolton's Andy Whyment who plays Fiz's hapless boyfriend Kirk, captained teams and handed out trophies to race winners at the start of the new season at Manchester's Belle Vue Stadium.

Banger racing is similar to stock car racing, and involves cars racing each other round an oval track at speeds of up to 50 mph -- and at times bumping into each other.

But unlike stock car racing, where the vehicles have been specifically made for racing, banger racing cars literally are old bangers, most commonly battered old Nissan Bluebirds and Vauxhall Cavaliers which have failed their MOTs.

Drivers are allowed to push, spin and dispose of their opponents, providing they do it in the direction of the race.

Last night both Alan and Andy were each the guest captain of a rival 15 car strong team and it was their job to cheer on their teams from the side of the track.

Andy was confident his team, the Darlaston Demons, would easily beat their rivals Alan's team, the Merseyside Invaders. He said: "I'm not driving tonight.

"I don't think bosses at work would like it in case anything happened. But I have had a go before.

"I came here about four months ago with Bruce Jones who plays Les Battersby and I raced round in a three wheeler Robin Reliant. It was really good." Alan got the crowds cheering and shouted his support to his team over the roar of the engines.

He said: "I've met my men, they have fabulous wrecking form."

The hundreds of spectators who packed into the stadium also watched a Mini stock car race -- where under 16s battled it out to see who was the fastest driver in specially designed Minis. Over the evening around 100 bangers lapped the track and whenever the cars crashed, tractors were on hand to haul them away. One of the most noticeable entrants was a 1600cc VW Beetle which had been painted to replicate Herbie from the sixties Disney film. The night ended with a wild 50 plus car demolition derby.