GRANADA is to invest more than £5 million on new studio space for its hit soap Coronation Street. While there are no plans to increase the number of episodes produced, the new space will make it easier to make special shows such as the hour-long episode on Christmas Day, a spokesman said.

Building has been under way for several months and the new hi-tech facility should be in use in the New Year. Producers will then be able to build more new sets - such as police interview rooms and hospital wards - giving extra scope to scriptwriters.