CORONATION Street star Simon Gregson stopped by St Rocco’s Hospice to help celebrate the opening of the charity’s new Vitality Centre.

The kind-hearted actor has played Steve McDonald in the soap since 1989.

He helped launch the new service, which will offer support to residents with terminal illnesses, and the centre will be part of St Rocco’s ‘hospice without walls’ vision, to give therapy sessions to sick people still living at home.

The launch was also an opportunity for eager Starlight Walkers to pick up their t-shirts ahead of the midnight walk on June 24.

Visitors enjoyed taster sessions from the hospice therapists, tea and coffee, live music, craft activities for children and had the chance to meet the hospice staff.

Handmade items crafted by patients at the Lockton Lane site were also on sale alongside plants and cakes.

Visitors were invited to take a look around a bedroom which was set up to show the different costs of equipment that is used on a daily basis to help terminally ill people.

The celebration was an opportunity for St Rocco’s volunteers and fundraisers to take a look around the centre and see what a difference all their hard work has made.

The charity has recently launched a sunflower project, with people dedicating a flower to a loved one which will then go on display in front of the town hall between May 27 and June 11.

Registration has also opened for the popular annual colour run, during which volunteers are pelted with powdered paint as they walk, jog or run a 3km course.

In 2016 more than 800 people took part.

For more information or to get involved with any of the events visit stroccos.org.uk.