Malandra, who starred as Kathy in the soap for 16 years, was knocked to the ground and punched in the stomach as she tried to stop the thief as he attempted to steal her Audi A5.

The actress, who also appeared in I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, was left with bruises and scratches from her ordeal but otherwise escaped uninjured.

The thief abandoned the car and ran off after members of the public were alerted to the scene by Malandra's screams.

Police are now appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.
The incident happened at 11.30am on Friday outside Malandra's home – she has asked the location not to be revealed for security reasons.

She said she had been leaving her house and had left her car engine running while she went to close her gates.

"Before I knew it I was lamped to the floor and this guy got in my car," she said.

The 42-year-old screamed at the robber, who had two accomplices with him who drove off in a red Ford Fiesta.

"I am in shock and very angry. But it could have been so much worse," she said.

"I think I learned a lot from being in the jungle – to get up and have a go.

"I got myself off the floor and thought 'I'm not going to let you get away with it'.

"I got up and went after him, opened the passenger door and started screaming."

Her screams – which had attracted the attention of passers-by – scared him off.

He abandoned the car and ran off across fields with several members of the public in pursuit and the red car also drove off.

"It is believed the suspect was picked up by a white van which had also been parked nearby.

Ms Burrows added: "At the end of the day I am ok.
"If I thought about it I would never do it again, but I just felt so angry. How dare they?"

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said enquiries were ongoing and anyone with information should contact PC Andrew Thomson via 0845 6060606.