Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine played an earthy part in Manchester's Mitzvah Day events.

The actress, who portrays Fiz in the ITV soap, got her hands dirty planting flowers donated from garden centres into wellington boots at South Manchester Synagogue in Bowdon. She was joined by 30 Jewish children and members of the Muslim community. The boots were given to residents of north Manchester's Heathlands care home and patients at St Ann's Hospice in Cheadle.

Organiser Samantha Bernstein said the actress had been "simply great", adding that a food drive by synagogue members in Altrincham for a homeless shelter in Manchester city centre had also been successful.