"We have 30 days to save our NHS!"

Those were the strong words of former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh who has thrown her support behind Jeremy Corbyn's bid to be PM.

The actor, originally from Elmfield Street in Church who played Hayley Cropper, made a special appearance at the launch of Labour's General Election campaign in Manchester today.

In a rousing speech, the former Moorhead High School pupil urged people to back Labour in the General Election on June 8.

She said: "We have 30 days. 30 days to turn this around. 30 days to be on the ride side of history.

"We have 30 days to create a more equal society...and 30 days to save our NHS!"

Julie, who was awarded Hyndburn’s Honorary Freedom of the Borough award in 2015, told how her view of politics had changed since Mr Corbyn became the leader of the Labour Party in 2015.

“I have never felt as excited and exhilarated by party politics,” she said.

“I realised the Labour party and its core values would finally be in line with my own deeply held socialist beliefs about equality, justice and peace.

“I felt like I was part of an exciting mass movement of people who gave a toss about stuff.”

"People think politicians are all the same", the Broadchurch actor added. “We emphatically are not.

“Let’s turn this mass movement into a government, a country, a society that truly gives a toss about stuff.”

Mr Corbyn has told supporters that the stakes are high in this year's election, and said the party would have to work hard to convince "sceptical and undecided" voters to back them.

But regardless of how the vote goes, he says he'll carry on as Labour leader.

Standing in front of Labour's new battle bus, he told the crowd at Event City in Manchester: “We have four weeks to show what kind of country we are.

“We know that the people of Britain don’t pass by on the other side. That is the principle we will take into government so that we can unlock every person’s potential and everyone can make their best contribution to our society.

“We have four weeks to win and transform Britain for the many not the few.

“We must seize that chance today and every day until June 8. Thank you very much.”