THE latest soap opera martyr is attracting huge North-East support from fans desperate to see her set free from jail.

The Friends of Hayley Cropper Society has been set up by die-hard Coronation Street viewer Vanessa Reynolds of Cockfield in Teesdale.

Hayley has been behind bars since she refused to keep away from Wayne, the boy she wanted to foster with her husband Roy.

The Croppers ran away Wayne when they thought he would be returned to his violent step-dad but once the police caught them they were both charged with abduction.

To save soap's first transsexual from languishing in prison, Vanessa has distributed posters around the region to get support for the character's early release.

Vanessa said: "It all started as a bit of a joke really. Hayley's a brilliant character and I really like her.

"I put posters around Teesdale and Barnard Castle with my mobile number asking for people to join the campaign.

"Since then my phone hasn't stopped ringing and I've had calls from people as far away as Wetherby."

Vanessa, a well-known practical joker, has had T-shirts printed for her fellow campaigners as well as more posters.

The soap fan is no stranger to TV campaigns - she also put up posters in support of Deirdre Rashid when the long-suffering character was jailed for fraud.

She is now planning a rally in support of Hayley and is hoping to start a petition to send down to the show's producers.

She said: "I know the actress who plays Hayley is pregnant in real life so she won't be back from prison for a while but at least she'll know she's got support."

Anyone who would like to join the campaign can call (07944) 536382.