Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth actor Liz Dawn 'rushed to hospital' with serious lung condition

Actor suffering from emphysema and chest pains

Dawn with her late on-screen husband, Bill Tarmey (PA)

Coronation Street veteran Liz Dawn has reportedly been rushed to hospital with a serious lung condition.

The 77-year-old, who is known for playing Vera Duckworth on the soap opera, reportedly felt ill suddenly on Thursday.

She was admitted to a hospital in Manchester with emphysema and chest pains.

The actor, who played her character for 34 years, was forced to quit the soap in 2008 due her health, and said she was "devastated" not to be able to attend the soap opera's 50th anniversary in 2010.

She was reportedly housebound for weeks before being admitted to hospital.

A source close to the family told The Sun: "She’s been in and out of hospital quite a few times in the last few years and normally the family are quite upbeat, but this time they seem more concerned.

"She’s not in a good way and her loved ones are obviously very worried."

Dawn was also unable to attend the wedding of her grandson, Thomas, who married the 27-year-old niece of Coronation Street’s Debbie Rush, in Italy in June as she recovered from surgery linked to a heart condition.

Bill Tarmey, who played Dawn’s on-screen husband Jack Duckworth, died in 2012 in Tenerife.

A year later, Dawn had a pacemaker fitted after a heart attack whilst on holiday in Spain.

She first appeared on the soap opera in 1974.