Child actor who played Corrie's Freddie Peacock battles cancer

Hayden Whitbread is the child actor who played little Freddie Peacock in Coronation Street, and it's been revealed today that Hayden, just six years old, is battling cancer.

Hayden took turns playing Freddie Peacock on Corrie with his twin brother Dylan. He was diagnosed with a Wilms' tumour in June. About 70 children in the UK develop a Wilms' tumour - which is a type of kidney cancer - each year.

Actress Julia Haworth, who played Claire Peacock on Corrie, was one of the first to donate to the charity fund the family set up to help Manchester Children's Hospital where Hayden has received treatment. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/supportourward

Follow the Coronation Street Blog on Twitter and Facebook