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Coronation Street star Ian Puleston-Davies got his running legs in gear to back a little girl's campaign for a wonder drug to be made available on the NHS.

The actor, who plays builder Owen Armstrong and lives in Hoole, invited eight-year-old Gracie Mellalieu, of Buckley, to the Coronation Street set to meet fellow actors including his on-screen daughter Izzy Armstrong, actress Cherylee Houston.

Gracie has Morquio Syndrome , which leaves her with joint, muscle and back pain everyday, meaning on some days she relies on the use of a wheelchair. The Corrie stars invited the Southdown Primary School pupil and her mum Yvette to the set after hearing of the family’s campaign to get wonder drug Vimizim funded by the NHS.

Gracie has been trialling the drug for nearly three years and it has changed her life dramatically.

To raise awareness of the campaign Gracie and Cherylee, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, chased Ian in their powered wheelchairs to create a comedy video for their cause.

Gracie’s mum Yvette said: “It was an amazing day and Gracie had so much fun.

“She was able to whizz around using her powered wheelchair along with Cherylee in her wheelchair. That was something really special for Gracie as for her it was just like walking around with a friend.”

The youngster was also invited on to the set to see how the soap is filmed and met cast members including Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor.

And there was an extra surprise for Girls Aloud fan Gracie, when she got to meet one of her idols band member Sarah Harding at the studios.

Ian, who was born in Flint, said: “Gracie is a special person. Of course I’m going to help fight for her to get this drug.”

Cherylee added: “Gracie is an amazing person, I can’t bear the idea of her not having this drug which means she doesn’t have the same rights to life as the rest of us.”