CORONATION Street star Liz Dawn has vowed to continue working, despite being diagnosed with a serious lung disease.

Liz, 65, who plays viewers' favourite Vera Duckworth, has been battling chronic emphysema for the last 18 months.

The condition - linked to smoking and advancing age - leaves the lungs inflamed and sufferers become short of breath as the disease gradually worsens.

But Liz, who it's been reported has had to be given oxygen on set, says she's determined to carry on playing Weatherfield battleaxe Vera, alongside Bill Tarmey as screen husband Jack.

Specialist

"I'm doing really well," she said. "I'm just grateful that I have found a fantastic specialist who has been able to sort out my medication so that I can carry on doing what I love - which is being a mum and a grandma and working on Coronation Street."

Liz was first seen on screen in 1974 and Vera teamed up with Jack five years later. They moved into No 9 Coronation Street in 1983 and are now seen as the king and queen of Corrie.

National soap treasures, they have had rows over everything - including wayward son Terry - but always ended up together, with Jack recognising they can never part.

In recent years, Corrie bosses have reduced the workload of both characters, as Liz and Bill reached their sixties. But Vera is still regularly seen working in Roy's Rolls and giving Jack a hard time. Liz was a heavy smoker for more than 40 years until a cancer scare. She is being supported by husband Don Ibbertson, her four children and members of the Street cast.

Parents

After her own cancer scare, Liz - who will be 66 in November - helped raise £1m for a breast cancer unit at St James's Hospital in her home town of Leeds. Both her parents died of cancer.

While Liz received an MBE from the Queen in 2000 for her charity work, Vera believes she has blue blood with distant family links to the royal family.

Liz recently signed a new one-year deal to stay on the Street on a reported £150,000 a year. She said then:"I'm very happy on the show and have no intention of quitting."

Pigeons

Viewers were shocked when the former factory worker and Rovers landlady walked out on Jack after their 48th wedding anniversary, complaining that he loved his pigeons more than her. But she returned a week later.

Earlier this month, she attended the Alderley Edge wedding of co-star Samia Ghadie (Maria Sutherland) to businessman Matthew Smith.

Liz has also continued her charity work, cutting short a holiday to Spain this summer to help raise money for Kirsty Howard's appeal.

A Street spokeswoman said: "Liz is a highly valued and well-loved member of the cast. She is a really hard worker and has managed to overcome any health problems to carry on working - which is what she wants to do."

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