Soap star Hayley Tamaddon has announced she is pregnant with her first child.

The former Coronation Street and Emmerdale actress said she believed she was not able to have children.

The 42-year-old wrote on Twitter: “EXCITING NEWS TWEET!! I’m so pleased to tell you all… I’m expecting my first child with my wonderful boyfriend Adrian!!

“I’ve always wanted to be a mum and didn’t think I could have children.

“And now, at the ripe old age of 42 – I’M PREGNANT! We couldn’t be happier.”

She also shared a photograph of herself in a peach-coloured strapless dress cradling her baby bump.

The actress is currently starring in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.