John Savident said he was overwhelmed by all the flowers people had sent

Speaking with difficulty, he told reporters outside the hospital: "I don't feel at all well but thanks go to the great staff at the hospital.

"They made a few tortuous hours very comfortable and very warming and welcoming.

"I want to say thank you to all the people who sent me flowers. I mean, I am quite overwhelmed. I really can't thank you enough. I am really gobsmacked."

The entrance to the exclusive block of flats where Savident lives was sealed off earlier on Friday and forensic science teams were searching for evidence.

At the back of the flats, Savident's garage was sealed off.

A police spokesman said he could not confirm reports that a robbery had taken place at the flat.

A spokeswoman for Granada, which makes the ITV soap, said: "Everyone is really, really shocked that anything like this could happen."

Savident has played the role of Fred Elliott since 1994.

A former policeman in Manchester, he left the force in the early 60s.

The actor may not now appear in a live anniversary episode of the soap

In an interview last year he said: "Britain is becoming more like the mean streets of the Bronx than the cobbled streets of Weatherfield.

"If you walk around Manchester with your eyes slightly shut you would swear you're in Los Angeles."

He was stabbed in the arm during his time as a policeman, when he was involved in breaking up a gang fight.

Savident has had a string of film and theatre roles during his 30-year career.

In the early 90s he was set to play Robert Maxwell on stage until the production was scuppered by legal problems.

Anniversary

Granada Television denied the incident would throw next weekend's live episode of Coronation Street into chaos.

The cast are preparing for a live episode on 8 December to mark the programme's 40th anniversary.

A spokesman said Savident was due to appear in it, but could be written out if he is too ill to perform.

"There is a script almost ready and the read-through starts on Monday," a spokesman said.

"It all depends on John's recovery, it depends how serious his injuries are as to whether he will be in it."