Street treat for local shoppers

CHINWAG . . . Liz compares medicines with Mary Davenport (90) from Chadderton who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

FORMER Coronation Street favourite Liz Dawn delighted fans when she hit the election trail in Chadderton Precinct — and urged shoppers to vote Labour.

The bubbly 72-year-old — who played cobbles legend Vera Duckworth for 33 years — branded Prime Minister David Cameron a “waste of space” when she joined shadow health minister Derek Twigg.

They were supporting Labour’s Protect our NHS campaign with Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams and Oldham Labour leader Jim McMahon.

Liz, who is fighting emphysema, was greeted with cries of “hello Vera” as she joked with fans and cooed over toddlers.

They were keen to hear about her health since she left the soap in 2008 — and she whipped her medicines out of her handbag with a broad smile to compare notes. Immaculately dressed with sleek cropped hair, she said: “It is very important to be here today. Labour did a fantastic job for 10 years. All that good work and now look what’s happening . . . I am worried about the NHS.

“I vote Labour, always have done, and it’s getting that message across to people.”

Asked how easy it was to convince people to vote for the party, she added: “So many people agree with what we are trying to do.

“People are out there and worrying. I have six grandchildren and I worry for their future as well. Cameron’s a waste of space, I just hope people will support us.

“Labour did such a good job with the NHS and research. A lot of money has been spent on research and I am now benefiting from that.”

Talking about her illness she said: “I have bad days and good days and I worried about today because it was something I really wanted to do. Thank God I have done OK.”

Awarded the MBE in 2000, Liz is a charity ambassador for the British Lung Foundation and leads its Love Your Lungs campaign.

She also revealed that she had plastic surgery on her face after a dare to jump over a privet as a youngster went wrong.

This inspired Liz to help children disfigured by cleft palate.

“I am hoping to write a book and the proceeds will go to that,” she said.

“Without that operation, I would have never got on. I might not have got married or got a job.”

Describing Liz as a natural, Mr Twigg said: “She feels passionately about the health service. She has been an absolute star here today.

“The reaction from the public has been absolutely tremendous.”