HEAVY rain couldn't dampen the spirits of the Coronation Street cast as they hit the town for their Christmas 'do'.

Samia Smith, who plays Maria Sutherland in the soap, and Jane Danson (Leanne Battersby) stepped out in Hilda Ogden-style headwear to keep the rain at bay as they headed for the Obsidian restaurant on Princess Street in Manchester.

They joined stars including Tina O'Brien (Sarah-Louise Platt), who shimmered in a silver sequinned number with black ribbon and Beverley Callard - Rovers Return owner Liz McDonald - who braved the elements in a black see-through top and tight leather trousers.

Among the other stars were Bruce Jones (Les Battersby), Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland), Antony Cotton (Sean Tully) and M.E.N. columnist Tupele Dorgu (Kelly Crabtree).

The party was Corrie's only official Christmas outing as their traditional December black tie bash for cast and crew at Manchester town hall was cancelled.

The town hall party, rumoured to cost about '20,000, had been a festive highlight for 40 years, held by former ITV chief Charles Allen as a thank-you to the Street's cast.

The new top brass at ITV cancelled the party as they sought to cut costs. But the Corrie regulars made up for it at Obsidian as they partied into the early hours.