CORONATION Street star Beverley Callard had a narrow escape when her car careered out of control in Bolton last night.

The TV soap glamour queen was driving out of the town on St Peter's Way when her car swerved across the carriageway and ploughed into a central crash barrier.

The Alfa Romeo was badly damaged but remarkably the actress, who plays Liz McDonald in the soap, emerged from the wreck virtually unscathed.

She was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with whiplash injuries and minor bruising but went home after treatment. The accident, just before 5.30pm, blocked the busy southbound carriageway between Raikes Lane and the Kearsley roundabout for 20 minutes.

No other vehicle was involved.

A passing motorist is believed to have used his mobile phone to raise the alarm.

The actress's car suffered extensive damage to its offside. It had to be towed off the by-pass and was considered to have been damaged beyond repair.

Today Beverley was recovering from her ordeal at her home in North Bolton. Her husband Steve Callard said: "It isn't possible to speak to her about the accident today."

Five years ago Street star Ken Morley had a narrow escape when his car was involved in a collision on the M61 on the outskirts of Bolton. He suffered facial injuries in the crash.

Alongside her Coronation Street role, Beverley Callard has been carving out a career as a teacher of aerobics. She has taken successful classes at gyms in the Bolton area and produced two top-selling exercise videos. Beverley now hopes to open her own gym in the Bolton area

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