Coronation Street viewers watched harrowing scenes unfold on Friday night as Joel Deering’s sinister plan unfolded.

Coronation Street fans have been left less than impressed with the ITV soap after watching gut-wrenching scenes in the latest instalment.

Currently, Lauren Bolton (played by Cait Fitton) is pregnant with Joel Deering’s (Calum Lill) baby, which they’ve kept under wraps since her return to the cobbles after it transpired he was the one who attacked her.

As the teen stays in Joel’s flat while waiting for him to sort out her move to Ireland, Weatherfield residents have been left to believe it was Nathan Curtis (Chris Harper) who hurt her earlier this year.

On Friday night, Joel fans watched in horror as he secretly crushed drugs into Lauren’s food to induce premature labour, which would result in her losing the baby.

Eating her soup, unaware of what he’d done, Joel left the flat and locked her inside. It wasn’t long before the drugs kicked in and the teen was seen in immense pain.

Lauren Bolton went into early labour after being drugged by Joel Deering (Image: ITV)

Realising she was going into labour early, she was unable to move and she collapsed on the floor. Lucky for her, friend Max Turner (Paddy Bever) tracked her to the flat and heard her in pain.

Although viewers were sickened by the scenes as many slammed the ITV soap for airing it pre-watershed.

One person reeled: “Omg. [sic] #corrie has really gone too far tonight with Joel’s actions. That is not OK. How is that entertainment? It’s vile @Ofcom Please look at tonight’s episode which has really gone too far.”

Another commented: “These storylines are just going too far before 9pm watershed. Nasty.”

Coronation Street fans were left reeling on Friday night (Image: ITV)

Someone else tweeted: “What the #corrie writers have put the Lauren character through is vile and disgusting. This should not be seen before 9pm. This teenager has been put through the absolute ringer, coercion, assault, r**e, homelessness, being drugged etc and now this.”

“I love Corrie but I honestly feel like this is maybe triggering for some people,” shared another.

One viewer tweeted: “Corrie went too far in my opinion, horrible and I turned off.”

While another fumed: “This storyline actually makes me feel a bit sick [sic] do you not think Lauren has suffered enough abuse from men and now this? It’s icky.”

Luckily Lauren’s baby survived the early induced labour (Image: ITV)

In the episode, viewers learned that the fire brigade broke into Lauren’s flat and the teen was taken to the hospital.

With Max by her side, Joel and Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) paid a visit to Lauren in the hospital, where they learned the baby had survived.

As her friend explained the premature boy had been taken to the ICU, Lauren was distraught as Joel looked horrified, realising his horrific act may be uncovered.

Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV from 8pm.