Despite grabbing only a couple of hours' sleep after a nerve-wracking live appearance on celebrity reality show Popstar To Operastar the night before, Kym happily chatted to shoppers and posed for photographs for several hours.

The actress, who plays barmaid Michelle Connor on The Street, has been helping launch the Home Heat Helpline, which offers people free advice on their energy bills.

She invited shoppers into her 'pop-up living room' in the centre to chat to them about how to save money on heating bills during the cold weather snap that has hit Morley.

The Home Heat Helpline is a government-backed free service funded by Britain's major energy suppliers to help vulnerable customers with their bills.

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Recent research has revealed that 47,500 households in Leeds are missing out on big savings on their energy bills. By taking advantage of the free insulation on offer, families could slash more than £250 from their energy bills by claiming free home insulation grants.

During the cold snap the service has been helping record numbers of people with advice on keeping warm and keeping bills down.

Kym has been lending her support to the campaign based on her experiences as a single mum and said the response from the public in Morley had been great.

"We've been quite busy all morning and we've been able to work with a few people that have been eligible. People are getting curious about the helpline and what it can do for them," she told the Observer and Advertiser.

"It's interesting how much help is out there and people just don't realise that some of it might help them a lot."

Kym found fame and success in the group Hear'Say after being picked for the band on the reality TV show Popstars, but before that she was a struggling single mum of two.

"I used to be on benefits and there were lots of times when I was really struggling," she said.

"I did use to worry about things like heating bills and so I really do know what it's like.

"If there had been a helpline for me back then I might have been able to get some help and advice so I would urge anyone in that position now to get on the phone and ring the helpline.

"So many people just don't realise there's something out there for them and it's amazing how many people could benefit from this.

"You hear so many awful stories, particularly about older people, and we need to help them."

As well as her Coronation Street duties Kym is currently taking part in the ITV reality talent show Popstar to Operastar, for which she is undergoing gruelling voice training.

"I'm going straight to a singing lesson from here actually," she said.

"I'm having so much fun with it, and I'm hoping that it's a skill that I'll be able to use at some point, but it's really hard work!

"It's great having mentors like Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon, who is just unbelievable. It's an absolute honour to work with them, it really is."

* The Home Heat Helpline number is 0800 336699. You can also visit the website at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

You can call for advice for yourself, or on behalf of a friend, family member or neighbour you may be worried about.