True horror of Corrie's puppy farm storyline

ITV works with RSPCA to show cruelty

- CHRISTINE SMITH

WHEN Coronation Street's Evelyn and Cassie Plummer uncover an illegal puppy farm in the new year, what they find will horrify viewers.

And that is exactly the reaction the soap wants after developing the harrowing scenes with close guidance from the RSPCA to wake people up to the grim reality of the cruel trade.

Fans have already seen thug Terry threaten Evelyn, played by Maureen Lipman, and attack her grandson Tyrone after she confronted him for mistreating his puppy and rescued it.

And in January, she and daughter Cassie (Claire Sweeney) will learn the villain runs a puppy farm at his home.

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal, who helped retrieve more than 80 dogs from an illegal farm in the Midlands, advised scriptwriters on the distressing issue.

Herchy says: "Puppy farms are more common than people realise. They could have 90 breeding female dogs in one barn, in pens next to each other.