BOLTON actress Maxine Peake is among a number of high profile signatories declaring their support for the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn ahead of the general election.

The open letter written in support of Mr Corbyn has collected over 30 signatories from a wide range of actors, musicians, writers and academics.

In the letter, the signatories, who include Steve Coogan, Alexei Sayle, Roger Waters, Miriam Margolyes, Mark Ruffalo, Vivienne Westwood, Michael Rosen and Noam Chomsky, describe the Labour leader as a “life-long committed anti-racist” and claim that “no political party or political leader has done more to address [antisemitism] than Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.”

The letter concludes: “It has never been more important that voters are made aware of the truth of what the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn stands for: the eradication of all racism, including anti-semitism, wherever it rears its ugly head.”

The letter, which was issued to music website NME, was sent in direct response to a similar letter denouncing Mr Corbyn and urging voters not to support the Labour Party because of its association with antisemitism.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, actor Simon Callow and author Tony Parsons were among the 24 signatories of the letter to the Guardian. Other public figures signing the letter included writer John le Carre and actress Joanna Lumley.

The group said Mr Corbyn “has a long record of embracing anti-semites as comrades” and asked which other communities “would be next”.

Ms Peake, 45, who attended Westhoughton High School and Canon Slade School, has been a vocal supporter of Mr Corbyn since his election as Labour leader in 2015.