[Scarlett.]

Coronation Street favourite Hayley Cropper will be assaulted by her long-lost son, in scenes to be broadcast on the ITV1 soap next month.

The transsexual factory worker, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, will soon discover that she fathered Christian 20 years ago when she was a man. After learning about the shocking family secret, Hayley finds her son with help from a private investigator, but decides to pretend that she is his aunt.

However, Hayley struggles to cope with the guilt of lying to Christian (Andrew Turner), and eventually arranges to meet him at a remote beauty spot to break the news. Stunned by her revelation, Hayley's son lashes out, brutally attacking her.

A source told The Sun: "Christian is utterly devastated. He believed her when she said she was his aunty and had accepted her as a new part of his family. But once she comes clean, he can't control his anger and just lashes out at her. It's a pretty gruesome scene - and there is plenty of blood."