WHILE people from all walks of life have been speaking out for the Free Deirdre campaign in recent weeks, drinkers at one village pub seem determined to see her locked up for good.

Regulars at the Golden Lion, Blackburn Road, Higher Wheelton, drew up a petition to keep the Weatherfield One behind bars after the outcry from national newspapers and MPs.

More than 70 people signed up and the majority were disappointed to see Coronation Street's Mrs Rachid freed on bail at the weekend.

Now the campaigners are looking for a new way forward following the latest development in the soap, as evidence of John Lindsay's misdemeanours surfaced that may lead to Deirdre's acquittal.

Golden Lion licensee Katie Ball explained: "We were just sick of Deirdre, she's a pathetic character and she always looks miserable.

"The petition was the idea of one of our regular customers, Malcolm White. We got 77 signatures and there were people coming to the pub whom we'd never seen before.

"It was a really good talking point and only three people refused to sign. We think one of the script-writers lives up the road and we were going to drop it through her letterbox!

"It would be nice if Deirdre was banged up and written out of the series, but we're not sure how to carry on with the petition now she's been let out."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.