Michael Le Vell to take a break from Coronation Street

Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell will take a break from the show to get help for "personal issues", ITV has said.

The 49-year-old actor, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster on the soap, only recently returned to Weatherfield's famous cobbled street after being cleared of child sex offences.

It follows recent newspaper reports that Le Vell took cocaine in the run-up to his four-week trial last year, where he was found not guilty of 12 offences.

An ITV spokeswoman said, "Coronation Street and Michael Le Vell have mutually agreed that he will take a break from the programme whilst he seeks professional help for personal issues."

Le Vell, who has starred in Corrie for more than 30 years, will appear on the show from late March for about six weeks in episodes recorded previously.