Coronation Street viewers say grisly murder scene went too far

Coronation Street viewers filed nearly 400 complaints over violent murder scenes broadcast during prime time television.

* Warning: The following contains spoilers for an episode yet to be broadcast in New Zealand.

Viewers watched in horror as kidnapper Pat Phelan (Connor McIntyre) forced captive Andy Carver (Oliver Farnworth) to kill Vinny Ashford (Ian Kesley) before shooting him too in a dark double-bill, The Daily Mail reports.

ANDY! 😱

Whatever you do, don't give Phelan the gun! #Corrie pic.twitter.com/GrCXq9ImEr

— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) October 27, 2017

Dozens took to Twitter to complain that the soap had "gone way too far" and claimed the scenes were "more like a horror movie" than a family-friendly soap.

What the hell have you done to our most loved soap? This is not a horror movie and is supposed to be family viewing 😠😠😠 #Corrie

— Julie Anne Drury (@mousechips68) October 27, 2017

This is quite the worse episode of Corrie I have ever seen,before the watershed too,just like a horror movie.Poor Andy.I was a huge fan !!😱😱

— Joyce Hale (@Joyhale44) October 30, 2017

@itvcorrie This programme is absolutely disgraceful tonight, in fact it’s sick! Before the watershed too! It used to be entertaining!#corrie

— Toby My Angel, Henry, Alfie & Me 🌻 (@AolCatherine) October 27, 2017

This should have been transmitted after the 9pm watershed as NOT suitable family viewing 😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠

— Julie Anne Drury (@mousechips68) October 27, 2017

Ofcom confirmed that it had received 390 complaints in relation to the broadcast.

A spokesperson added: "We will assess these complaints before deciding whether or not to investigate."

Having already set his sights on framing Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) for the attempted murder of Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni), Pat blackmailed Andy by telling him he could can have his freedom back if he killed Vinny.

Pat had convinced Andy that he would let him go if he helped him to take Vinny hostage as his "replacement".

With freedom in mind, Andy co-operated, but he was unaware that Pat had a dark twist set in store for him.

Phelan sought revenge on Vinny after he made off with all the money from the duo's plans to scam Weatherfield's residents by selling flats they had no intention of building.

The chilling episode saw Vinny battered and bruised and covered in blood, as he lay gagged and tied up, before Pat yelled at Andy until the terrified hostage shot Vinny.

Then, when Andy considered shooting Pat in revenge after being locked up for months, brainwashed and tortured by the cobbles' resident villain, Pat lost his temper and shot Andy dead in turn.