END OF AN ERA AS JUNE QUITS BILL (7/2/06)

From The Sun Newspaper. We're waiting for official confirmation...

THE Bill veteran Trudie Goodwin — who plays Sgt. June Ackland — is to quit after 22 years.

She has been with the ITV cop show since its pilot episode, but has told bosses to plan her exit.

The departure is set to be one of the biggest storylines ever to rock Sun Hill.

An insider said: “Trudie has been thinking for a while about leaving The Bill and has finally made the difficult decision.

“She has signed a new contract which takes her up to the end of the year, but has told producers it will be her last.

“She’d like them to come up with a real slow-burner of a plot leading to her exit.

"They’re in talks now. It promises to be absolutely huge.”

Trudie, 53, is the only remaining original cast member.

She has had some of the biggest storylines — including being left fighting for life in 2004 after she was hit by a police car.

And last year she had a fling with PC Gabriel Kent, played by ex-EastEnder Todd Carty, who then claimed to be her son.

The actress decided to quit after daughter Jessica, 21, graduated from university. It meant she and husband Kit were under less financial pressure.