Maggie Jones will have one last rant as 'Coronation Street's Blanche Hunt - from beyond the grave.

The late actress - who died in December aged 75 - is set to give her on-screen family a final put-down when her battleaxe character Blanche sends her loved-ones a postcard from Portugal filled with withering words.

In the card to her daughter Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) and son-in-law Ken Barlow (Bill Roache), Blanche writes: "I considered surprising you by flying back for your party. But then I remembered some of your previous anniversary parties and couldn't imagine it would be worth the bother. Besides, it's 83 degrees Fahrenheit here and we have a pool."

Maggie played the comic battleaxe in the ITV soap for 35 years, first appearing on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield in 1974.

Since her passing on December 1, the comedic actress' friends and colleagues have praised Maggie's sense of humour and acting skills.

'Coronation Street' writer Jonathan Harvey said: "I loved writing for Blanche as she could say the unsayable and you wouldn't hate her for it. Also, you always knew she'd deliver - and some! She's irreplaceable."

Bill worked closely with Maggie for years, and previously labelled her a "brilliant actress".

He added: "She was a tower of strength - physically frail but mentally strong as an ox and sharp as someone half her age."