BEVERLEY Callard, better known as Coronation Street barmaid Liz McDonald, had a night off from the Rovers Return to be special guest at a fundraising event in Stourbridge.

The Corrie star was more than happy to mingle with locals before Survivors of Domestic Abuse’s (SODA) charity fashion show began on Friday night (October 7).

Local clothing boutiques, including Timeslip Vintage, My Sisters Closet and Bella Boo, were present at the Stourbridge Town Hall event, showcasing some of their latest fashions as Beverley watched from the front row.

The fashion show is the latest in a number of fundraising activities SODA is hosting in its bid to become a registered charity.

Sam Billingham, founder and a survivor of domestic abuse herself, set up the organisation in 1999 as an online domestic abuse support group to help raise awareness and reduce isolation for people who had suffered abuse.

The group offers now self-care groups throughout Dudley borough to anyone affected by coercive control and domestic abuse, as well as support nationwide.

Sam, an avid tweeter, said she was delighted when Beverley accepted her invitation to appear at the fundraiser as a special guest.

She said: “I was just so shocked when she replied saying yes and before I knew it, we were on the phone making arrangements.

“It was such a brilliant evening, I really did feel like the belle of the ball. It was such a pleasure to welcome Beverley here, she was so down to earth and really easy to talk too.

“She is fantastic and all the models also kindly donated their time to model along the catwalk, and despite their nerves they were absolutely amazing from start to finish.”

During the event, Beverley told the audience on stage: “I told my husband we were going to a fashion show. We cut our holiday short to be here tonight, we weren’t due back until Sunday!”

She added: “After coming along tonight and hearing what others have said about Sam, I know we are going to become good friends, she might only be four foot nine but she is a stick of dynamite and I will be supporting SODA.”

To help raise further funds for SODA, many local shops donated raffle prizes, while Beverley herself donated a tour of the Coronation Street set and gave Sam the outfit she wore for the live episode of the popular soap which will be auctioned at a later date.