FANS have been left playing a guessing game after Coronation Street star Tracey Shaw appeared in Blackpool sporting a wedding and engagement ring on her left hand.

The star, in town this week for the £250,000 relaunch of the Magic Of Coronation Street, fuelled speculation of an engagement to superstar boyfriend Darren Day by wearing both a gold band and a ruby-set ring on her wedding finger.

When approached by the Citizen to ask if congratulations were in order, a blushing Tracey inquired what for, only to coyly reply: "Oh it's definitely not that," when the rings were mentioned.

Screen boyfriend Ashley, played by Steve Arnold who was also appearing at the Promenade attraction, sported a giveaway grin while Tracey, the Street's man-eater Maxine, spent much of the rest of her visit with her hand in her pocket.

The likelihood of wedding bells was underlined with a report in a national newspaper of Darren turning to the theatre box where the blonde beauty sat watching his Summer Holiday show in Bristol and speaking one of his lines, "Yes I do want to marry you - in London", directly to her, casting her a loving look at the same time.

Now, fans are on tenterhooks waiting to hear when the couple will officially announce their big news.

Tracey and Steve were the celebrity hosts at a party to relaunch the Magic of Coronation Street.

They met and signed autographs for 500 resort VIPs and hoteliers invited to learn about the attraction's £250,000 revamp.

There was a chance for lunch in the Rovers Return followed by a stroll down the full-size replica of the Street itself, about which Tracey remarked: "It looks so real. I keep expecting Fiona to come out of the salon."

Parts of the attraction to get a facelift include the memorabilia shop, the entrance which has been made larger, and the outside - gone are the Ogden's ducks, visitors now see a huge Granada TV logo adorning the building to give it authenticity.

Head of operations Sue Grindrod explained: "Some of our visitors were unclear as to whether we were part of Granada and, therefore, were a little unsure of the quality and authenticity of the attraction."

To increase the value-for-money ethos visitors to the Magic of Coronation Street can now go into Sooty's House of Fun free of charge.

A 40-minute tour again returns with visitors taken back through time along a themed dressing room corridor, while a video presentation turns Florrie Linley's original shop transforms magically into Alf's corner shop.

Front rooms of characters like the Websters and the Duckworths have been recreated and, of course, the Rovers Return is open for you to enjoy a pint or two.

Sue Grindrod commented: "In developing the Magic of Coronation Street we have listened to our visitors.

"Two of the most popular aspects are the Rovers Return and the memorabilia store.

"These have hitherto been included as a part of the whole tour but there has been a steady request to open them directly on to the Promenade."

She added: "This investment by Granada reinforces the strong links with Blackpool which has featured regularly as part of the story line."

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