Coronation Street fans were horrified by harrowing scenes showing an attack on Nina Lucas and Seb Franklin in tonight's double bill.
The loved-up young couple were set-upon by a drunken teenage gang after taking a walk along the canal as part of a powerful storyline to shine a light on hate crime.
A terrified Nina and Seb were chased by vile yobs including Corey Brent and Kelly Neelan because of goth Nina's appearance.
Things turned nasty when Nina urged neighbour Kelly to go home because she was drunk and Kelly was egged on to slap her.
Builder Seb attempted to remain calm as they were pursued by the baying gang, even managing to get his phone out and leave a message for his mum Abi Franklin to check in with her as she enjoyed her hen night.
But heartbreakingly he was brought to the floor by the gang and viewers heard the sounds of Seb being repeatedly kicked as Nina desperately tried to get away.
Viewers were warned about 'violence, strong violence and scenes some viewers might find upsetting.'
"That was BRUTAL," tweeted one fan.
"Too violent for this time of night. I feel sick," said another.
"This storyline of #Corrie is making me f****** angry. What did they do to deserve that beating?" said another viewer.
Another soap watcher said: "Already have tears in my eyes absolutely heartbreaking."
"Made me feel sick that," commented another.
"Just didn't want to see that," another fan tweeted.
The soap was applauded for shining a light on hate crime inspired by the tragic murder of goth Sophie Lancaster in 2007.
"As hard as it was to watch well done for highlighting another serious issue," said one viewer.
"This storyline is so important," said another.
The soap has worked with Sylvia Lancaster who founded The Sophie Lancaster Foundation in memory of her goth daughter Sophie who was murdered in a park for the way she looked.
Sylvia teamed up with with Corrie with the mission of tackling and encouraging more people to report hate crime.
The attack on Nina and Seb is similar to what happened to Sophie in 2007 when she and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were set upon because they were members of the goth subculture.
As a consequence of the attack in Stubbylee Park, Bacup 20-year-old Sophie died from her injuries.
