Coronation Street fans can’t believe Jane Danson’s real age as Leanne Battersby star celebrates birthday

CORONATION Street star Jane Danson has shocked fans on her birthday - by revealing her age.

The actress - who has played Leanne Battersby on the ITV soap since 1997 - celebrated her special day with a romantic date night.

Jane, who was joined by her actor and former Hollyoaks star Robert Beck, revealed that she had turned 49.

She posted a picture on her smiling on her birthday meal out and wrote: "Thank you for so many lovely birthday messages .

"It’s been a lovely day. You know you’re getting older (45) when you’ve been out for birthday tea but grateful to be back home in your pj’s by 7:15."

Many Corrie fans were left gobsmacked at Jane's age and flocked to comment on her ageless looks.

One wrote: "Happy birthday lovely, you don’t look a day over 30...secret please."

Another posted: "Happy Birthday 45 is the new 35."

A third added: "Wow you look incredible," while another said: "You don't age Jane. You look great."

Jane's character has been involved in a string of hard-hitting storylines - including the death of her onscreen son.

But in real life, Jane has also experienced her own heartache.

Last year she bravely opened up about suffering a secret "missed miscarriage".

The Leanne Battersby actress was told her unborn baby had no heartbeat at her three-month scan.

Jane said during Baby Loss Awareness Week: "The pain of having a ‘missed miscarriage’ will stay with me forever.

“My 3 months scan showed there was no heartbeat yet my body continued to be pregnant for some time. It was devastating.

"The worst thing that I did was not talk about what I was going through and somehow it made the heartache even more painful.

"In time I learnt to talk and express just how broken I felt."