THE Prestwich actress who won a legion of Coronation Street fans as Fred Elliott's Thai bride returns this month as a battered and bruised conwoman.

Casey Lee Jolleys is enjoying being with the nation's famous soap once more.

"It was great to come back," said the 31-year-old, who has given birth to a baby daughter since her last appearance.

She became a big hit more than a year ago when she played Orchid Pattaya, a 'Thai bride' who actually turned out to be Manchester market stallholder Stacey, working a scam to get hold of Fred's money.

After 10 episodes, she left the Street but producers were so happy with the public reaction to the storyline and Casey's character that they left the door open.

The call to return to Wetherfield's cobbled streets came a couple of months ago and Casey has been filming for the last week or two, to be broadcast at the end of January.

"It's more about Stacey this time", said Casey, inbetween filming.

"Fred is at the hospital with Ashley when Stacey is brought in unconscious in an ambulance. She has been beaten up because she was doing one last scam before quitting the business, and she picked the wrong punter!

"Fred's heart, though, still beats warmly for her and when he sees her, it's bingo! He wants to look after her and make sure she is OK."

Casey believes that we will see a bit more of "the real Stacey" over the next eight episodes she is in, and we are probably set to like her.

But even when the Orchid/Stacey plot was at its peak previously the character was very popular. "I was amazed then that the public liked her quite so much. I thought I'd get hate mail because she was trying to con Fred but everyone was lovely to me." she said.

She was also taken aback by wellwishers when her businessman husband, Michael (45), was rushed to hospital on Boxing Day with a heart scare, and a national newspaper reported that he had had a heart attack.

"As a result, the fans have already been really nice to me, saying 'how's your husband?' and 'are you all right, then?' when I sign autographs! But it really was just a scare and Michael is fine now," she added.

Her daughter, Halle, almost one, is also keeping the actress busy on the home front. "She can say a few words now, and she's really fun.

"I think, though, that she's going to be an actress," said Casey, laughing. "She can turn on the tears when she wants something, and then just stop like a real diva!"