Coronation Street's 50th anniversary appeal raised over £150,000 for charity, the soap has announced today.

As the show reached its milestone birthday last year, bosses and cast members launched a series of fundraising events to bring in cash for Cancer Research UK, the NSPCC and The Christie cancer centre in Manchester.

Coronation Street has now donated £50,000 to each of the charities, which were chosen by the cast in a democratic vote last year.

Initiatives used to raise funds included a charity auction and gala dinner.

Coronation Street's executive producer Kieran Roberts commented: "We're delighted fundraising initiated by the Coronation Street cast during the 50th anniversary year has generated £50,000 for each of the charities.

"We felt raising money for charities during the anniversary year would be a tangible way of celebrating Coronation Street's heritage."