Coronation Street's grooming storyline will take a terrifying new twist next week with a race against time to save teenager Bethany Platt.
Warning: spoiler alert!
As the ITV soap brings the storyline closer to its conclusion, Nathan Curtis, played by Chris Harper, will try to sex-traffic fiancée Bethany (Lucy Fallon) to Belgium.
Curtis persuades Bethany to leave Weatherfield with him to start a new life in Belgium.
But when Bethany says en route to the port in Hull that she was unable to find her passport, Curtis arranges a new one for her - and reveals that she will be travelling alone.
Back in Weatherfield, Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) fears for Bethany's safety and rushes to the Platt home to raise the alarm.
With the police called in, the chase begins to rescue Bethany from Curtis.
The drama begins on Coronation Street next Monday on ITV and TV3.
Earlier this month, actress Lucy Fallon appeared in a video for Childline in the UK, warning young people of the signs of sexual exploitation.
Having worked with Childline in the UK to research her Coronation Street storyline, Fallon stars in the organisation's How Do I Know If I'm Being Groomed? video.
"Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a young person to gain their trust so they can force or trick them into doing something sexual," she said.
"As we are seeing with Bethany's story, a young person may not understand that they are being groomed so it's really important to raise awareness of this type of abuse.
"I'd encourage anyone who thinks they are being groomed to tell someone they trust or to contact Childline for free and confidential advice any time of day or night."
If you have been affected by this storyline, please contact Childline in Ireland on 1800 66 66 66 or The Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 778 888.
