Corrie viewers complain about child's slapping

Horrified 'Coronation Street' viewers have complained about a recent episode which depicted a child being slapped.

Burly builder Owen Armstrong (Ian Puleston-Davies) lashed out at girlfriend Anna Windass' (Debbie Rush) adopted daughter Faye after she deliberately poisoned his pet fish, but hundreds of viewers have taken to twitter to voice their displeasure and Philip Noyes of the NSPCC claims the scenes set a bad example.

He said: "Parents can obviously be pushed to the limit on occasion but there are more positive ways of correcting a child's behaviour than smacking them. It simply sets a bad example and teaches children that violence is a solution.

"Children tell us it leaves them scared and confused and the NSPCC believes it simply gives out the wrong message and breaks down the trust between child and parent."

Meanwhile, viewer comments on twitter included, "Very uncomfortable. Wrong on so many levels" and "Don't think it should have been shown."

However Ian - whose character Owen will be dumped by Anna when she discovers the incident - rushed to defend the storyline, saying: "From the moment it was suggested, they took it very carefully and slowly, so it took a long time to reach the script stage, and rightly so. I'm happy with the finished result."

A 'Coronation Street' spokeswoman added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "We most certainly don't condone Owen's actions - as will be seen by the ramifications of the slap, and the effect it has on his relationship."