Dales actress Charlotte Bellamy has announced she is expecting her second child with her partner, television researcher Mungo Denison.

Charlotte, who plays vicar's wife Laurel Thomas in the Yorkshire-based soap, gave birth to her first child Sunnie in September 2004.

Ironically, the actress' second pregnancy will mirror her screen counterpart's storyline from December, which had already been planned for some time.

Of the news, Charlotte said: "I’m really excited about having a little brother or sister for Sunnie and it’s great that Laurel’s going to be pregnant on-screen too!"

Charlotte will take a break for maternity leave in the spring and return in July.