Kym Marsh's gym frustrations led to launch of fitness DVD

Coronation Street's Kym Marsh says the frustration of not being able to get to the gym spurred her to launch her own fitness DVD.

The 39-year-old actress, who plays Michelle Connor in the ITV soap, has launched a 20-minute workout called Power Sculpt.

She told the Press Association: "My time was always really limited, and I wasn't making gym sessions. I found it time-consuming with having children and working long hours like I do."

Last year, she decided to put her love of exercise into action to ensure she did not have to miss workouts and developed the workout with the help of personal trainers Matt Baker and Sam Witter.

Marsh said: "I was verging on a size 12... I was starting to really feel that I was putting weight on and I felt uncomfortable in my clothes, and there were bits that wobbled."

Exercise also helps to boost her mood, said the actress, who has previously spoken of feeling humiliated when her weight was criticised by judge Nigel Lythgoe when she shot to fame on talent show Popstars in 2001 and was chosen for the band Hear'Say.

"When you go to the doctor's and you're diagnosed with depression, as I have been in the past - and as have several of my friends - one of the things they say is you must exercise," she said.

The mother of three added: "I'm passionate about my fitness. I'm not here to just do it and then disappear and just do it for a quick fix.

"This is something that's a big part of my life and something I will pursue more."