Rula Lenska has quit Coronation Street after a two-year stint on the cobbles.

The 72-year-old reprised her role as Claudia Colby - a rival to Audrey (Sue Nicholls) - in 2018, having previously appeared on the soap between 2009 and 2011.

After returning to the street, Claudia began a romantic relationship with Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) and in a recent storyline convinced him to move into the Stillwaters high-class retirement home.

However in scenes aired last night, Ken broke things off with Claudia after deciding to move back to the street - and now ITV have confirmed that the episode also marked Lenska's departure from the soap.

"The door is definitely open for Rula to return and Claudia still has connections on the street," a source told The Sun. "But for now Claudia's life is on the veranda of Stillwaters and Ken belongs in his backstreet boozer."

The episode ended with Ken returning to number one, much to the horror of his daughter Tracy (Kate Ford).