Coronation Street deleted suicide scene to be shown

Last year the ITV1 soap celebrated its 50th anniversary

Axed Coronation Street scenes from 1963 showing a character attempting suicide are to be screened for the first time, ITV has confirmed.

Factory worker Sheila Birtles was filmed swallowing a bottle of pills and vomiting before being discovered.

An ITV documentary, looking back at the show's most explosive storylines, will air the scenes later this summer.

The story was leaked, leading to complaints from viewers and a decision not to broadcast them.

Birtles decided to end her life after being dumped by her boyfriend.

The storyline and its depiction was considered to be controversial and shocking in the 1960s.

Last year Coronation Street character Natasha Blakeman, played by Rachel Leskovac, attempted suicide after having an abortion.

The hairdresser had been pregnant by her on-screen boyfriend Nick Tilsley (Ben Price), who had ended their relationship.

In December the ITV1 soap celebrated its 50th year with a dramatic storyline, which involved a tram crashing onto the famous Weatherfield street.