Coronation Street star suffers a serious health scare that led to devastating news

She's been gracing the screens as Vera Duckworth on beloved show Coronation Street for many years now it's hard to imagine it without her. However, Liz Dawn had received news that she will have to miss her grandson's wedding in Italy for a major operation on her incurable lung.

Devasted Liz, 77, missed her grandson Thomas Borso, 29, marry Alice Coughlin, 27, the niece of Corrie's Debbie Rush, who plays Anna Windass, on Friday. Doctors told the Rovers Return legend that she was too poorly to risk the flight to the Alpine town of Bassano del Grappa. 

Doctors told the Rovers Return legend that she was too poorly to risk the flight to the Alpine town of Bassano del Grappa. Instead Liz is preparing to go under the knife for an op linked to an ongoing heart condition which, she hopes, will help transform her life. 

In an interview with the Sunday People, Liz said: 'At the moment I've got no energy but once the operation is done I will be looking forward to being back to my normal self and getting my energy back.

'Naturally I am very disappointed not to be there with them. They make such a lovely couple, it's every ­grandmother's dream and Bassano is such a lovely setting. 

'But I was there with them in spirit and we will throw a big party for them when they return from their honeymoon.'

Liz's condition developed from her lifelong smoking habit - she began aged just 14 and smoked 24-a-day until her diagnosis.

• This article was first published on dailymail.co.uk and is republished here with permission.