TWO former Coronation Street landladies dropped into Abergavenny last week and were soon happily pulling pints at Llanfoist's Bridge Inn.

Beverley Callard known to Corrie fans as Liz McDonald and fellow actress and Loose Women star Denise Welch who played Natalie Horrocks, both appeared in the popular television soap as Rovers Return landladies, and for one night only took a journey back in time to host at the Llanfoist pub while taking part in a film currently in production in Tredegar.

The actresses were making cameo appearances in an educational film called Bloody Nora, which aims to draw attention to self harm and which is being directed by Andrew 'Shinko' Jenkins, the man behind the hit film 'A Bit Of Tom Jones'.

"I have seen with my own eyes that self harming is on the increase,'

?said Mr Jenkins.

"If this film can help highlight the issues surrounding this infliction by alerting others to the symptoms of this growing problem, then it will have been a success.

"I've produced similar educational films like the dangers of 'Texting While Driving' and Homeless which have been screened by the BBC which also had an educational message contained within them," he said.

Denise, who appeared in A Bit of Tom Jones as Delilah added: "I had already agreed that I would take part in Shinko's film as I have seen many young people fall victim to the problem and I wanted to help.

"I knew that Beverley had a week off and I persuaded her to take part in the film as well.

"There is no money involved as we are doing it for the love of our profession."

Beverley added: "We both have gained a lot from acting and while we still need an income, it is nice to be able to give something back to the profession we have gained so much from."

Denise explained that she had been so taken with the script that she jumped at the chance to take part.

"It's like going back in time to take part in a production like this. It seems to me that self harm is a very female thing, a badge of honour perhaps in certain circumstances."

Beverley, who has herself fought a highly publicised battle with depression said: "It's a hard hitting script and it uses our emotions to get the message across."

"While self harm may not have been such a problem in the early 90s, it could easily have been a part of a story line from Soldier Soldier as they tackled many hard hitting issues in the series," added Denise, who played the part of an army wife in the television drama.  

The pair soon got carried away with their thoughts enjoying a lively discussion similar to ITV's Loose Women, in which both of them have appeared and were happy to give their views to the Chronicle on the entertainment industry.

The actresses have known each for many years - meeting long before their Coronation Street days while appearing in  small roles both on television and in the theatre.

Beverley said: "We've gained experience in our profession with hours of preparation, long days and nights learning our lines and hours and hours spent in rehearsals for our parts.

"It seems that in the days of reality television nobody wants to do an apprenticeship anymore."

Denise butted in and said: "You have got to learn your craft whether it be acting or singing you can't go straight in and think you've made it.

"An actor has to tread the boards for years to perfect the craft and a singer has to know how to work a crowd."

Denise then laughed loudly as she said: "Having said that I should really have no excuse for my single 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' which only reached number 23 in the charts and then bombed."

Both women are looking forward to various new projects that will see them treading the boards again in the theatre.

Beverly, who pulled her last pint at the Rovers Return earlier this year added: "That's how we started. It's good to remind us where we come from and it's our turn to inspire the up and coming talent who are out there learning the acting craft we so love."