Lucy-Jo Hudson has revealed that she was held hostage by a machete-wielding gang in South Africa.

The 25-year-old, who played Katy Harris in Coronation Street, told the Daily Record that she witnessed eight armed men burst into a music show in Johannesburg and ask for money.

She said: "Halfway through the performance I saw guards walking through the theatre and then the lights went on. One of the performers said: 'Don't worry, but we're in the middle of a robbery.'"

Hudson had just completed filming on the third series of ITV's Wild At Heart when the incident happened.

"It was supposed to be a night out to celebrate finishing filming, but it went horribly wrong."

She added that she and other audience members hid backstage until police arrived to arrest the criminals.