With the first episode airing on December 9 1960 hit ITV soap Coronation Street turned 60 as stars past and present took to social media to mark the very special anniversary with cast members flocking to pay tribute to the much-loved soap in a series of touching posts.

Seasons later, people’s love for the show hasn’t waned and the show’s alumni have been sharing throwbacks of their time on the soap and fond memories of their stints on the cobbles to celebrate the show’s 60th anniversary.

Coronation Street, which has been recognised by Guinness World Records ahead of its 60th anniversary has been given an updated certificate, along with its longest-serving cast member William Roache and the programme, which became the world's longest-running TV soap opera in 2010, officially turn 60 yesterday.

Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the soap's 1960 debut, said it had given him "a lifetime of wonderful memories".

Set in the fictional northern town of Weatherfield, Coronation Street was originally only intended to run for 13 episodes.

In February this year the show aired its 10,000th, an hour-long edition full of nods to the drama's highly eventful past.

As gripping storylines unfold to mark the massive milestone celebrities who’ve previously starred in the show reflected on episodes gone by.

Pop star and former Street regular, Keith Duffy, for one wrote, ‘Happy 60th Birthday @coronationstreet I was there for the 50th feels like yesterday ❤️ Super team on and off the screen! #especiallyhairandmskeup.

Current ‘bad boy’ Ian Bartholomew, who plays Geoff Metcalfe, also posted a warm message for the serial drama’s 60th, saying: ‘Happy 60th Birthday to Coronation Street. And may there be many happy returns.’

One of the younger Corrie stars, Ella Jade Mulvaney, recounted her time growing up playing Amy Barlow on the soap tweeting, ‘Happy 60th Anniversary Corrie! The last ten years have been a blast, here’s to many more! #Corrie’

Bruce Jones, who left the soap back in 2007, after playing taxi driver Les Battersby, shared; ‘Good evening, I would just like to say congratulations to @itvcorrie on 60 years this week, I really enjoy my time on the street, well done to the cast and crew and all involved, here’s to another 60 years!! #Corrie’