Shortland Street Says Goodbye to Long-Standing Character Rachel McKenna

Shortland Street fans are reeling after one of the series' longest running characters has been written out of the show.

Rachel McKenna, played by actress Angela Bloomfield, has been a regular feature on the series since 1993 (age 20) - just a year after the soap opera debuted.

Tonight's episode saw McKenna leave Ferndale for good - following a self-destructive episode that saw her trash a wedding before ending her long-term relationship with Dr. Chris Warner.

Over the years, McKenna has been involved in some of Shortland Street's biggest storylines, including a kidnapping, two marriages and several near death experiences.

With a history of alcoholism and addiction, McKenna has a history of self-destructive behavior, which has seen her written in and out of the series.

But while Bloomfield's latest departure is said to be permanent, producers chose not to kill her off, leaving the door open for a possible return.

Bloomfield first left the series in 199 to pursue directing, before returning a year later.

2003 saw her bow out again, after Rachel discovered her boyfriend Chris Warner was having an affair with Donna Heke, before returning briefly in 2007.

Two years later she returned on a permanent basis and has been a central character on the series ever since.

Take a walk down memory lane and check out some of the photos we found in the archives above!