FORMER Coronation Street star Denise Welch has spoken out over allegations in a Sunday newspaper article portraying her as a "drug-crazed animal".

The 43-year-old actress, whose family still live in County Durham, thanked the people of the North-East for their support.

Miss Welch said the public recognised her as someone other than the person portrayed in the "scurrilous" article.

She used yesterday's launch of this year's Jack And The Beanstalk pantomime at Newcastle Theatre Royal to fight back following the article.

The newspaper quoted a phone conversation with an undercover reporter in which she talked about cocaine, and was pictured leaving a hotel with a male friend.

Miss Welch, best known as barmaid Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street, is married to Geordie actor Tim Healy. They have two children, Matthew, 12, and seven-month-old Louis.

After posing for pictures as principal boy Jack Trot, the normally bubbly actress, still visibly upset by the allegations, told reporters: "I'm aware you are here regarding the scurrilous articles about me in the Press.

"They were my words that were used and I have never denied that the telephone call, which was taped illegally, took place.But they were taken out of context, and tried to make me into some drug-crazed animal, which I am not.

"It's horrible to say something like that and to trap someone in such a way."

Pantomime co-stars, including former Emmerdale star Norman Bowler and comedian Fogwell Flax, and Theatre Royal staff applauded her remarks.

The pantomime opens on December 12