FORMER Coronation Street actress Sherrie Hewson has donated a five figure sum to an animal sanctuary after appearing on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

The actress, who played Maureen Holdsworth in the ITV soap, has helped secure the future of Only Foals and Horses, Oswaldtwistle.

Sherrie, who is currently a presenter on ITV talk show Loose Women, was invited to take part in the quiz to raise money for charity with fellow presenter and friend Carol McGiffin.

And according to Olive Lomas, the owner and founder of Only Foals and Horses, Red Shell Lane, Oswaldtwistle, the money will go a long way to guaranteeing the future of the sanctuary.

Sherrie, who has a love for horses and ponies, knows Olive after a chance meeting with her and one of her ponies on the set of Coronation Street 15 years ago.

Olive was recently invited to the studios in Hertfordshire for the filming of the celebrity version of ITV's Millionaire' without knowing why.

Unfortunately she was too sick to attended but volunteer Lisa Wearing and her mother Gillian Egan went instead.

While the show was being filmed Sherrie announced she would donate her half of the winnings to the sanctuary.

Olive said: "We gave our word to the producers we wouldn't disclose the amount until after the showed is aired tonight.

"However, any small or large donation is most gratefully received.

"The sum will either help to get US through the winter or will go towards major improvements on the site to encourage more visitors.

"I was over the moon when I was told Sherrie would be giving her share to us.

"About 15 years ago I was invited to the set of Coronation Street to meet the cast by Charles Lawson, who played Jim McDonald on the show.

"I took one of our ponies, Sonny Boy, with me and we became friends from then.

"This has never happened before and it is magnificent."

Tune in tonight at 8pm to find out exactly how much Sherrie and Carol win for their prospective charities.