Pop trio Atomic Kitten are to make a cameo appearance in Australian soap Home And Away when the show films in London.

The show has been off British screens for more than a year since Channel 5 poached the series from ITV.

To mark the return on 16 July filming transfers to London as character Donald Fisher brings his family to the city.

Atomic Kitten, who topped the charts earlier this year with Whole Again, will play the objects of affection for Nick Smith, played by Chris Egan.

The group - Jenny Frost, Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon - will meet the character as they finish a rehearsal.

Crush

A spokesman for Channel 5 said: "They bump into Nick who has got lost in London.

"They're very sweet and help him out and he develops a bit of a crush on them."

"It's a great coup to get Atomic Kitten and we're very excited.

The episode filmed in the UK will feature a one-off appearance by Emily Symons, who is soon to join the cast of Emmerdale.

She played Marilyn Fisher for eight years.

Home And Away went off air after Channel 5 bought the rights to the show.

As part of the deal ITV insisted that the rival broadcaster could not screen it until this summer.

ITV replaced the daily Australian soap with a revived Crossroads.

To mark its first week, members of Steps put in a cameo appearance.