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EastEnders bosses are to refilm some parts of Lucas Johnson's story following the recent prostitute murders in Bradford.

During next week's episodes - which were planned months ago - man of the cloth-gone-bad Lucas (Don Gilet) was to be seen visiting a local red light district and picking up a call girl named Jade.

From there, he would drive her away to a remote location and force her to pray for God's forgiveness.

After she attempts to run away, Lucas gives chase and creating a ligature with his tie - as he previously did while killing his wife's ex Owen - he would then seemingly strangle the innocent girl to death.

However, following the CPS's decision to charge 40-year-old criminology student Stephen Griffiths with the murders of three call girls, EastEnders execs have decided to drop the prostitute link from next week's episodes out of respect for the families of those affected by recent events.

A spokesperson for the BBC soap told Digital Spy: "EastEnders storylines are written many months in advance and any similarity to real-life events is coincidental."

They continued: "However, on this occasion - to ensure we do not cause distress to the families involved in the recent tragic events in Bradford - we have decided to reshoot some parts of the storyline involving Lucas Johnson."

Affected scenes are currently being reshot at the soap's home at Elstree Sudios, Borehamwood, Herts ahead of transmission on Wednesday.

Yesterday evening, Coronation Street pulled its fourth episode of Siege Week following the shooting tragedy in Cumbria, in which 12 people were shot dead by a gunman.

Digital Spy