CORONATION Street star Katy Cavanagh has spoken of her sadness about the closure of the town's iconic Theatre Church as she gets ready for her return to the Octagon Theatre.

As a youngster the former Coronation Street star regularly performed at the Astley Bridge venue, which was demolished earlier this year to make way for nine houses despite numerous appeals from Paul Cohen, chairman of Bolton Amateur Theatre Society (BATS).

Katy, who became a household name when she took the role of Julie Carp on the cobbles in 2008, is back in Bolton for the premiere of Jim Cartwright sequel Two 2, set in a northern boozer, which will make its debut at the Octagon Theatre in February, following on from a production of Two.

Katy said: "I have always wanted to act since I was little. My mum was a drama teacher so I was involved in theatre from a young age. I used to perform at the Theatre Church — it was really sad when that was knocked down. It was a beautiful building and housed so much talent.

"I wish there was more funding and support from the government for the arts, but I don't worry that it will die out — I think that the more you try and repress creativity, the more it grows."

Former Canon Slade pupil Katy, aged 42, began acting as a youngster, following in the footsteps of her drama teacher mother, and has been a regular on TV for nearly 20 years.

Katy said: "Bolton is a very creative town. It's lovely to come back to where I grew up and first dreamed about becoming an actor and was inspired to go to drama school.

"Nothing much has changed since I left — but that is what I love about the place. I keep getting lots déjà vu moments from when I was a teenager when we used to walk around the town centre."

Mr Cohen said: "I am delighted to see that Katy is back in Bolton and cannot wait to see her in Two and Two 2.

"It was a tragedy when the Theatre Church was pulled down. As a local community building, now that the Albert Halls is shut, that place would have been thriving."

Two will run from January 21 to February 6, followed by the world premiere of its sequel, Two 2, from February 10 to 27.