Veteran actress Paula Wilcox has been cast in a new role on Coronation Street, 51 years after she first appeared on the show.

The 70-year-old previously starred in the soap in 1969 as Janice Langton, the teenage tearaway sister of established character Ray Langton (Neville Buswell), who later became father to Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford).

According to The Sun, Wilcox has signed up for a new guest role as Elaine, a former partner of Geoff (Ian Bartholomew) who could provide some assistance to Yasmeen (Shelley King) as she awaits trial for attempted murder.

"If Yasmeen pursues the defence that she snapped after endless cruelty at the hands of Geoff, then Elaine's testimony could prove invaluable," a source told the newspaper. "But as this is Corrie it won't be plain sailing, there'll be quite a few twists and turns along the way.

"Paula is only making a guest appearance for a few weeks but it's a role she'll relish sinking her teeth into. After all she'll play a pivotal part in a storyline that's had the nation gripped."

Wilcox's scenes are due to air later this month.