Actress Lusardi to quit Emmerdale

Lusardi's character Carrie Nicholls (l) with Lexi - actually her daughter

Actress Linda Lusardi is to quit Emmerdale to pursue other acting roles.

Lusardi, who has played Carrie Nicholls for the past year in the soap, will exit with "a hugely dramatic storyline" in the New Year.

The former Page Three model said her role in the Yorkshire-based show had given her a "wonderful opportunity" but she now wanted "varied" roles.

In a recent episode, it was revealed that her character's sister was really her daughter from a teenage pregnancy.

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Lusardi first appeared in Emmerdale in February with on-screen daughter Scarlett, whose father was revealed to be murdered business magnate Tom King.

It also transpired that Carrie had taken the virginity of King's son Carl many years earlier.

Lusardi, who has also appeared in The Bill and Brookside, paid tribute to the Emmerdale cast "whose hard work makes the show a success".

"I have thoroughly enjoyed playing Carrie Nicholls for the last year. I am looking forward to working on new projects in 2008," she added.

Emmerdale series producer Kathleen Beedles said: "We've got some fantastic storylines coming up involving Carrie in the coming months."

"We wish Linda all the very best for the future," she added.