Coronation Street bosses have axed a storyline about a snatched baby following the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann.
Producers on the top-rated ITV1 show have shelved their main summer plot over fears it too closely echoed the kidnap of the toddler in Portugal.

The Corrie plot had featured the kidnap of baby Freddie Peacock following a fire on the famous cobbled street.

Producers took the decision to axe the entire plotline after photos of Madeleine's mother holding her daughter's favourite cuddly toy were "disturbingly" close to the sequences already filmed.

A Coronation Street spokeswoman added: "We would not wish to add to the family's anguish at this terrible time and we are currently reviewing our storyline including episodes which have already been filmed."

The story had been due to run for four months from May 21.