Celebrity has enough fun of the fair to knock her shoes off

The actress, who played Diane Butcher in the award-winning soap, was special guest at George Dent Nursery, in Darlington, when it opened its grounds to the public for its summer fair.

After formally opening the event, Ms Lawrence, who was starring at Darlington Civic Theatre last week, took to the bouncy castle with youngsters to make the most of an afternoon off.

Also making a guest appearance at the fair was The Northern Echo's editor, Peter Barron, who was signing copies of his latest book, Dad at Large 2: To Vasectomy and Beyond.

One pound from each copy sold of the book, a selection from Mr Barron's regular Dad at Large column, goes to the Butterwick Children's Hospice, in Stockton, and an equivalent donation from books sold on Saturday was given to the nursery.