Shipley actor and Coronation Street legend Bryan Mosley is to film his soap exit within the next few days.

It is understood Mr Mosley's character, Alf Roberts, will pass away peacefully in an armchair at his step-daughter Gail Platt's house on New Year's Eve.

And millions of viewers will tune in to watch when the emotionally-charged scenes are broadcast during a New Year's Day special.

A spokesman for Granada said Alf's final scenes were scheduled to be filmed at the company's Manchester studios at the end of next week.

She said the scenes had not yet been rehearsed but added that she imagined the episode would make poignant viewing.

The spokesman said: "When people leave the show it's often very moving for them.''

Speaking from the home in Manchester where he lives during filming, Mr Mosley said he could not talk about next week's schedule or the storyline. He said: "I'm not allowed to talk about it. We're keeping it under wraps.''

The actor said he would not be treating his final scenes any differently to normal, adding: "It's the end of a job but I've been killed off in other things, you know.''

Mr Mosley, who lives with his wife Norma at Nab Wood, has been plagued by ill-health over the last 18 months.

It is believed his family have urged him to call it a day and last month Street bosses revealed his character would be killed off after nearly 40 years in Wetherfield.

The 67-year-old, who is the third longest serving member of the Street cast, has had a lighter filming schedule since returning to the set in October 1997 following a heart scare eight months earlier. But the father-of-six, who suffered a heart attack in 1991, had previously denied reports he would quit the soap over ill-health, saying the Street was ''in my blood''.

Following last month's announcement Mr Mosley said he had wanted to carry on but had no regrets and understood why Granada had taken the decision to axe Alf, the Wetherfield grocer-turned-mayor who first appeared in the soap 37 years ago.

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