Corrie’s Ashley opens coffee shop

Monday 6th July 2009, 11:40AM BST.

Coronation Street's Ashley, played by actor Steve Arnold, pictured with Gareth Williams behind the deli counter at the opening of a new coffee shop at Stan's Supermarket in St Martins, Oswestry. Hundreds of people turned out to see Coronation Street favourite Ashley Peacock swop his butchers for the deli counter at a Shropshire supermarket.

Steven Arnold, who plays the popular character, was at the opening of a new coffee shop and foyer area at Stans Superstore, in St Martins, near Oswestry, on Saturday.

He performed the official opening by releasing hundreds of balloons into the sky, and was swamped by fans as he made his way through the store.

He then donned a specially made “Ashley at Stans” apron and got behind the deli counter to help serve customers.

He said: “It’s absolutely fantastic, everyone has been really nice, it’s a wonderful reception. I got behind the counter. It’s a bit bigger than my shop and I don’t have as big a range of sausages as they do.”

Steven spent time signing autographs and Coronation Street memorabilia for fans while posing for photographs, before going on to open the St Martins summer fair.

Former EastEnders actress Cindy O’Callaghan, who played Andrea Price, also attended the fair to judge a talent contest.

One of the organisers, Sue Schofield, said the fair was a huge success and a coup for a village to have someone like Steven Arnold attend.

She added: “It will be an annual event from now on. It was a low key one last year. The committee formed because of that to keep it going as an annual thing.”

View more: Oswestry news, St Martins news.