CORONATION Street is set to get a new recruit in the form of former Bolton hunk Stephen Billington.

Stephen will arrive on the famous Street in about six weeks time playing the long-lost son of wild Les Battersby.

The 28-year-old, who originally hails from New Barn Street, Halliwell, has been cast in a heart-breaking role which he started filming this week.

And it's a role he has had plenty of experience of after starring as the sexy Lysander Hawkley in the TV version of Jilly Cooper's The Man who Made Husbands Jealous.

Stephen is being brought in to Coronation Street as part of producer Brian Park's bid to boost viewers with a string of young characters.

His first storyline is expected to be a steamy affair with hairdresser Maxine Heavey, played by Tracy Shaw.

Stephen, who now lives in London, moved from Bolton to South Africa when he was three years old.

His mother, Diane, comes from Bolton and his father, Derek is from Preston. The family moved back to Preston when Stephen was 11.

Stephen is a former trainee hotel manager with the Savoy group and wanted to become an actor from an early age.

He has appeared as a young cavalry officer in BBC's The Buccaneers and has been in the series Space Precinct. He had a role in Mel Gibson's Braveheart and starred as a police constable in Out of the Blue.

Now he is set to thrill the long-running soap's female fans in his new role.

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