IT was a night of celebrations and a chance to catch up with old friends at the annual M.E.N. Diary Party.

The bash has become one of the most popular events in the social calendar é and this year more than 600 revellers kicked back their heels at the five-star Lowry Hotel to celebrate the people whoéve made the news over the last 12 months.

They included glamorous Coronation Street star Tupele Dorgu, enjoying her first Diary Party, ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, former Slade frontman Noddy Holder, Corrie favourite Shobna Gulati, who came direct from filming her new role in Where The Heart Is, an Brian Conley and Kevin Kennedy, in town as part of the cast of the hugely popular musical production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, at The Palace theatre.

Coronation Street heartthrob Richard Fleeshman was at the do with his family é actress mum Sue Jenkins, actor dad David Fleeshman and little sister Rosie é who looks like a star in the making herself.

Meanwhile bosses of some of Manchester and Cheshireés coolest bars left their establishments for the night to enjoy the party é including Joe Akka of city centre bar Panacea, Paul and Ann Wharton of Piccadillyés Cotton House, Deepa Chopra and Dominic Apentang from The Circle and Scott Hannah from Alderley Edge celeb hotspot Brasingamens.

Hollyoaks

For Hollyoaks star Sarah Lawrence it was her first party since giving birth to bouncing baby son Christian.

Emmerdale star Sherrie Hewson was at the bash with her daughter, who was proudly showing off her own baby bump é due in September.

This year, the fabulous grand ballroom at The Lowry hotel had a chill-out theme, thanks to event organisers the Taylor Lynn Corporation, with swing band Ipso Factor keeping things groovy.

Liz Taylor, from the company, is well used to organising celebrity bashes, and it was a chance for her to catch up with many of her friends including Corrie girls Tupele and Shobna.

Take a look at a photo gallery from the night, below.

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