Coronation Street actor charged over lamppost smash

Ryan Thomas has played Jason Grimshaw for nine years

Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas has been charged with failing to stop after his car crashed into a lamppost.

Mr Thomas, 25, who plays builder Jason Grimshaw in the ITV soap, is accused of crashing his Chrysler at 0400 GMT on 31 October last year.

It crashed into the lamppost and crash barriers at the junction of Chester Street and Oxford Road in Manchester city centre.

He will appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on 16 April.

Another man was arrested at the scene and charged with driving under the influence of drink or drugs and having no insurance.

But the charges were later dropped and replaced with the charge of perverting the course of justice.

Mr Thomas is accused of leaving the scene after the accident and failing to report it to police.