CORONATION Street stars teamed up with staff at the Salford Advertiser to help Irlam-based pet sanctuary Animals in Distress.

Patron of the charity, soap star Tina O’Brien and her on and off-screen boyfriend Ryan Thomas were on hand to sign pictures and also took the chance to check on the abused puppy they found two weeks ago.

Tina, 22, said: “I originally came here with a bird I found. I really love animals and I didn’t realise there was a place in Manchester that cared for sick and poorly animals. We’re just trying to do as much as we can.”

Ryan, 21, added that a charity match was being planned between stars of the soap and actors from Hollyoaks against the sanctuary staff to raise funds.

They also spent time with the sanctuary’s latest rescue, a one-week-old lamb discovered lying next to it’s dead mother in a field.

After being taken in at the Irlam HQ the lamb is now being cared for at their sister sanctuary in Littleborough.

Although the open day raised £1,300 the cost of running the two sanctuaries is more than £5,000 a week.

Manager Mike Brown said: “The money will go towards helping with the running costs like the vet bills and animal food. The money we’ve raised is absolutely brilliant but it’s soon eaten up by our expenses.”

Money was raised through sales of refreshments, donated goods, a raffle and a selection of brand new shoes donated after a woman sold her shoe shop.

The Advertiser was well represented on the day with the telesales team manning one of the stalls.

Telesales manager Jean Martin said: “When we heard about the open day we said we will come along and sell our old stuff and give the money to the sanctuary because we’re all animal lovers.”

Anyone wanting to get involved with the sanctuary can call: 0161 775 2221.