CORONATION Street is moving its goalposts and screening episodes on Tuesday nights to clear the way for Champions League football on a Wednesday, it was announced today.

Three female stars of the show donned red, white and gold football shirts and posed in the Street to publicise the news.

Jenny James, 23, who plays Geena Gregory, Suranne Jones, 23, who plays Karen McDonald and Samia Ghadie, 19, who plays Maria Sutherland, fought over who would wear the coveted Manchester United shirt.

As all three support their home team, the girls took turns to wear the Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United strips - the last three English clubs left in the competition.

The trio kicked a ball around the famed cobbled street and joked they wouldn't be allowed home if they wore anything other than the red shirt.

As of February 19, the soap will make way for matches whenever they fall on a Wednesday until the Champions League final on May 14.

Last year, when ITV1 decided to screen the soap at 9.45pm, ratings suffered badly, a Coronation Street spokeswoman said.

David Liddiment, ITV1's director of channels, said: "This temporary move enables Coronation Street fans to watch their favourite programme at a familiar time.

"There are some gripping storylines coming up in the next few months and the climax to the Champions League will be just as exciting."

The 8pm Tuesday screenings will take place on February 19, February 26, March 12, March 19, April 3, April 9, April 23 and May 14.