Charlotte Bellamy

'Emmerdale' actress Charlotte Bellamy is pregnant. Charlotte - who plays vicar's wife Laurel Thomas in the ITV soap - is expecting her third child with partner Mungo Denison. She said: "We are all really looking forward to welcoming our new addition to the family, due to arrive in October."

Laurel - who has been a regular character on the show since 2002 - has recently been sentenced to 40 hours community service after she found herself in trouble with police for perverting the course of justice.

She was charged after she withheld information about corrupt policeman Sean Boyle's rape of Jasmine Thomas, who has since disappeared from Emmerdale.

While completing her service, Laurel has become one of the first characters in the soap to befriend new face Lizzy Lakely (Kitty McGeever).

Laurel is expected to take maternity leave in October and return to the show in 2010.

A spokesperson for the soap added: "This is fantastic news and we are all delighted for Charlotte and Mungo."