THE STARS of Coronation Street left the cobblestones of Weatherfield behind for a night on the town, just 24 hours after the soap's historic 40th birthday live broadcast.

Past and present cast members donned their glad rags for a gala dinner at Manchester town hall an Saturday night.

City centre revellers gathered in Albert Square to watch as dozens of familiar faces emerged from their limousines. First to arrive was Jean Alexander, who played mouthy Hilda Ogden for the best part of three decades.

All the present cast attended, apart from Eileen Derbyshire, who plays Emily Bishop, Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan, and John Savident (Fred Elliott), who is recovering from an attack at his Manchester flat.

But not everyone made a smooth entrance. Nikki Sanderson, who plays Sarah-Louise's friend Candice, narrowly escaped injury as she walked into the bonnet of a limousine.