BOLTON Coronation Street star Andrew Whyment declared a living room officially open and encouraged dozens of people to make themselves comfortable.

But arguments over who will be sitting where are not likely to happen as the new "living room" is in fact an outside play and relaxation space in Dunbar Drive for the Great Lever community.

Artist Isabella Lockett has spent more than two years creating the £50,000 area which is safe for children to play in at the same time as appealing to older visitors.

Bradshaw actor Andrew, who plays Kirk Sutherland in the soap, took time out from his busy filming schedule to chat to residents and declared the living room officially open.

The 21-year-old has just moved into a house in Boothstown with fellow Street star Alan Halsall, who plays loveable rogue Tyrone Dobbs.

He said: "Everyone laughs when they find out we're sharing a house and I expect we'll be getting up to mischief, but we're going to look after the place and get a cleaner!"

He has become used to being spotted in the street and added: "I'd rather people came up to me and had a chat instead of just staring or saying 'look there's Kirk'. Everyone keeps asking me what's going to happen in the Richard storyline, but I can't say!"