Tributes pour in for late Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride

Tributes have poured in for Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride after she passed away on Monday evening.

The star, who played Deirdre Barlow on the ITV soap, died after a short illness.

A statement on the show's website read: "It is with great sadness that [Anne's husband] David Beckett has confirmed tonight that his beloved wife and Coronation Street actress Anne Kirkbride has passed away peacefully in a Manchester hospital after a short illness.

"David and the programme's cast and crew are heartbroken and deeply saddened by the loss of Anne who has been a Coronation Street icon for 44 years."

William Roach, who played Anne's on-screen husband Ken Barlow, was one of the first celebrities to pay tribute, saying: "I feel Anne's loss so personally having worked with her for over 40 years. She was such a loving and vibrant person. You always knew she was there because her laugh was never far away.

"She was an impeccable performer with superb comedy timing and an immense gift for really heightened drama. We had some rows over the years as Ken and Deirdre and it was wonderful to play those scenes opposite her.

"Coronation Street has lost one of its iconic characters and Anne will be greatly missed."

Fellow cast member Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth, said: "It's like the heart of the show has been ripped out because she was so well loved by the cast and crew and by the millions of viewers who watched it.

"She was so lovely and I feel so sad. I'm so shocked because she had previously beaten illness and she showed such courage and spirit.

"I didn't realise she was ill, it was such a shock to hear that another illness has come and taken her away at such a young age.

"After going through so much, I'm so shocked to find that something else has come and taken her away from us."

Anne's on-screen daughter Kate Ford, who played Tracey Barlow, tweeted:

Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Conner in the soap, wrote:

Jack P. Shepherd, who plays David Platt, posted:

And former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan added:

Fellow former Corrie actress wrote:

Television presenter Carol Vorderman tweeted:

Vernon Kay wrote:

And Good Morning Britain host Ben Shephard tweeted:

EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy posted:

Fellow EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale, wrote:

Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton tweeted:

The Only Way Is Essex cast member Ferne McCann wrote:

Anne is survived by her husband David, her brother John and his family.