NORTH-East actor James Gaddas is leaving his Coronation Street role as builder Vinny Sorrell.

The actor, who plays the partner of Rovers Return landlady Natalie Barnes, will make an "explosive"' exit from the ITV soap in October.

He decided to leave the soap after just 15 months to spend more time with his four-month-old daughter Cate Olivia.

The 40-year-old star told The Mirror that travelling from his London home to the Granada studios in Manchester was taking its toll on his family life.

He has no other acting jobs lined up but would rather spend more time with the baby and ballet dancer wife Deborah, 33, than carry on in the soap.

''Obviously I want to work, but a longer stint in Coronation Street would have meant me being permanently away from Cate," he said.

"I'm not going to turn into a house husband, but new roles will, hopefully, mean I can be with her more."

James, a former Shakespearean actor who has also appeared in Peak Practice and The Bill, admitted he had itchy feet and was ready to take on new roles.

The actor, from Stockton, refused to give away details of how his character will leave.

But he said: "Vinny turns out not to be the decent bloke Natalie thinks he is. It's very explosive but I can't reveal any more."