CORONATION Street star Katherine Kelly, AKA Becky McDonald, spent her 30th birthday in India meeting women of her age who have HIV and AIDS.

She travelled with international development charity ActionAid to see those who had benefited from the charity's work.

She said it was one of the most humbling but rewarding experiences of her life. "I didn't just want to do that stereotypical celebrity thing, so I wasn't building a well or anything.

"But in my position, it gives my a fast track into these other worlds, and on my 30th birthday I wanted to go and meet some women of the same age and basically compare lives.

"But they won't let you feel sorry for them. They're all so chuffed you're taking an interest in them." Katherine spent four days in India, the longest she could fit in between filming.

Her mum sponsored a child through ActionAid when she was born, and since she joined Coronation Street, Katherine has sponsored a child too.