PUBLIC ENEMY - LES TO EXIT CORRIE

LES TO EXIT CORRIE

Actor Bruce Jones, who portrays the loudmouth character Les Battersby in Coronation Street, will be leaving the soap.

The star was suspended from the programme after allegations surfaced in the News of the World that he launched into a foul-mouthed tirade at the Old Rectory restaurant in Stockport.

His character is currently travelling with a band and the 54-year-old is likely to be written out in a storyline linked to his onscreen wife Cilla - played by Wendi Peters - who has already been confirmed as quitting the show.

In a statement ITV said: "After ten great years we feel we have reached the end of the road with storylines for Les.

"It is likely to be linked to the departure of his wife Cilla - actress Wendi Peters had already decided to leave the show in September at the end of her current contract."

The actor said he had enjoyed a "fantastic" time on the soap and was looking forward to working on other things.

He arrived on the street in 1997 along with his family - wife Janis and daughters Leanne and Toyah - to the dismay of the other Corrie characters.

The Battersbys then established themselves as public enemy number one on the street, but since then Les has divorced Janis, both daughters have left the soap and the one male Battersby has remarried.