Royal treatment for Jack's pigeons

Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth is set to get into a right royal lather for a visit by Prince Charles, all for the sake of Jack's homing pigeons.

11:03 29 September 2004

Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth is set to get into a right royal lather for a visit by Prince Charles, all for the sake of Jack's homing pigeons.

Vera is informed by Henry Broxbourne - of the House Museum Committee - that her stone-clad terraced house has been nominated for the Working Class Monument of Greater Manchester award.

Vera really goes through the roof, however, when she is informed that famous lover of architecture Prince Charles may well be popping round the winning home for tea.

But there is just one snag - the house would be far more likely to win, a rapt Vera is informed, if there were some traditional northern homing pigeons present in the yard.

As you may have guessed, Jack is behind the whole thing in a bid to get his beloved birds back after Vera banished them.

"Henry" is really an old drinking pal of Jack's called Ron Hepplewhite.

But the plan does not go smoothly.

"Things start to go wrong for Jack when Vera gets mugged and ends up in hospital while she's out shopping for a new outfit to wear when Prince Charles comes round," a Street source told the Daily Star.

"Jack is full of guilt because it was his scam which lead to Vera being attacked," the source added.