A TEENAGE soap star from Blackburn is set to become a father for the first time at the age of 16.

Coronation Street’s Alex Bain, who plays troubled teenager Simon Barlow, is expecting his first child with his girlfriend Levi Selby, she said on Facebook.

Levi, 16, hinted she was pregnant on the website earlier this week when she uploaded a picture of a baby scan alongside the words ‘8th December’, thought to be the baby’s due date.

The 16-year-old also mentioned her relationship with Alex in her Facebook biography, where she makes reference to the day their romance started – on April 14, 2017.

It is also rumoured that Alex is excited about the prospect of becoming a father, and that he has been telling people in the school about his good news.

The pair have since been inundated with well-wishers on social media with hundreds taking to Facebook to send their messages of congratulations.

One friend told Levi ‘you’re going to be an amazing mum’, while another said: “Congratulations hun you and Alex are gonna be great parents.”

A statement from the pair has yet to be released.

Alex has starred in Coronation Street for 10 years and is known for his role as the troubled teen son of alcoholic Peter Barlow and the grandson of Ken Barlow.

The show’s producers have entrusted Alex with many challenging and hard-hitting story lines over the years, including when the rogue teen became abusive towards his step-mum Leanne Battersby shortly after she adopted him.

He was also highly praised for his performance in storylines including a flat fire caused by his drunk father’s cigarette and the time he went missing while on a trip to Blackpool.

In 2010, Alex won a prestigious accolade when he was awarded Best Young Performance at the British Soap Awards.

The young actor fought off competition from the likes of Maisie Smith who played Tiffany Butcher in Eastenders and Ellis Hollins who appeared as Tom Cunningham in Hollyoaks to take the title.

He has been nominated four more times during his time on the soap.

At the time, a spokesperson for the show said: “He is a real little star and his portrayal of Simon Barlow has really captured the public’s imagination so it is great he has been recognised in this way.”

Alex previously attended Griffin Park Primary School in Blackburn and now goes to a school in the Preston where he is studying for his GCSEs.