'Coronation Street' mum Tracy Barlow is set to abandon her baby girl while she goes out drinking - in a shocking festive storyline.

Tracy, played by actress Kate Ford, can't find anyone to look after the tot on New Year's Eve and decides to leave Amy at home in bed while she parties with Charlie Stubbs at the Rovers.

While she sees in 2006 with Charlie, actor Bill Ward, and other revellers, viewers will see Amy at home alone - and won't know if anything happens to the little girl.

An insider is quoted in Britain's Daily Star newspaper as saying: "It is very powerful stuff and echoes the real-life issue of children being left alone at Christmas. Babysitters at this time are always at a premium and the temptation to leave children at home, no matter how briefly, sometimes becomes irresistible for parents wanting to party.

"A lot of Corrie fans will find the scenes disturbing, especially when the cameras return to the baby all alone in an empty house. Kate admitted when she found out about the storyline that she found it really chilling."