EAST Lancashire star Jane Horrocks is swapping acting for an indie singing career — by releasing covers of Joy Division and Morrissey tracks on iTunes.

The Absolutely Fabulous star is self-releasing the songs by the Mancunian acts over the next few weeks.

Jane said she had been inspired by her latest movie role in Sunshine On Leith, for which she had to perform tracks by The Proclaimers, including hit single Letter From America.

“I thought they were so interesting with female voices, and you heard the lyrics in a different way, and I thought I'd like to do that with a couple of my favourite songs — and these are indeed my favourite songs. I’m a massive fan of Joy Division, I love their music — particularly the lyrics.”

The Rawtenstall actress has recorded Joy Division’s Isolation and former Smiths star Morrissey’s Life Is A Pigsty She previously released an album of covers which featured a duet with Robbie Williams.

She said: “At the moment I've no plans to release a physical copy, but I'm going to see how it goes on iTunes first.

“I've got decent people playing on it and I got a very good producer."

She is also considering further songs by space-rock veterans Hawkwind and ’80s electronic act Cabaret Voltaire.

Jane added: "Most people think when I say I've done a couple of songs that it's going to be Judy Garland or Gracie Fields, so it comes as a bit of a surprise. But that's the music that I really like.”