THE ONLY actor to appear in Coronation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale has taken on a new role - as a real life complementary therapist.

And Damian Christian has told how he went into his new profession after treatment for a back injury made him curious about the work.

Christian, 41, of Grindleton, near Clitheroe, is to divide his time between treading the boards and busting stress thanks to his new business, Ribble Valley Therapies, which is based at the Maree Leisure Club, Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn.

Damian, who trained as an actor at the prestigious Webber Douglas Academy in London, played a doctor in Emmerdale and was the paramedic who tended Coronation Street's Fred Elliot when he broke his leg on a golf course.

He said: "I'm looking forward to my new role and just hope I can bring some of the benefits I enjoyed from complementary therapies to my clients.

"I'm trying to run the two parts of my career concurrently which is difficult to do but I hope I can combine the two.

"It's difficult when you act because you want to do something that fits in with it and hopefully this will."

Damian and business partner Sheelagh Fleming, who is the club's swimming instructor, will be offering a variety of therapies, including reflexology, Swedish massage, Indian head massage, aromatherapy and reiki.

Damian became interested in alternative healthcare, particularly massage, after his back problems.

The former St Theodore's RC School in Burnley and Accrington and Rossendale College pupil said: "My back froze a few years ago.

"I had to undergo weeks of painful traction treatment.

"I underwent massage as part of my after-care and was so impressed with the results that I decided to learn it myself."

Damian has acted in scenes with John Savident (Fred Elliot), Dean Andrews who starred in Life on Mars, Patsy Palmer and Kate Ford who played Tracy Barlow.