Coronation Street star Lynne Verrall dies aged 76

Lynne Verrall, successful actress of stage and television, has passed away at 76.

And now a fundraiser has been set up to honour her.

Coronation Street fans, in which she starred, will remember her as Geraldine Spellman, grandmother of Summer Spellmann.

She played this role from 2017 to 2018.

Verrall was born in 1949 and grew up in Shropshire.

After graduating at the Birmingham School of Acting, she trained there and toured with the New Shakespeare Company as understudy for the role of Celia, in As You Like It.

She also worked at Theatr Clywd in Entertaining Mr Sloane and later starred in Pale Horse.

Verrall also starred in several French short films, after moving to Paris in 2012.

She was diagnosed with motor neurone disease after wrapping filming for the role of Kelly Reilly’s mother in the dramedy Greek Salad.

Motor neurone disease (MND) is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurons, and currently there is no cure for the disease.

It mainly impacts people in their 60s and 70s, but it can affect adults of all ages.