ITV Corrie fans say missing child storyline is 'too much like Shannon Matthews'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

There was relief on the Coronation Street cobbles as Joseph Brown was returned to his dad Chesney Brown. The 10-year-old had Chesney and his partner Gemma Winter worried sick when he went missing last week after being bullied at school because they can't afford to buy him things.

But while Chesney and Gemma Winter made a public appeal for the youngster's safe return, and an appeal raised £30,000 reward money, his cousin Hope Stape was hiding him in her loft. READ MORE: I'm A Celeb's Adam Woodyatt on what really happened in the castle and life after EastEnders as he swaps Albert Square for Salford Later as Joseph and Hope slipped out of the house, after Hope's mum Fiz brought in a valuer to look at the property, Bernie Winter's mate Clint Stubbins spotted the two children.

With the £30,000 reward in his sights he gave them both £100 and sent Hope home. He then chaperoned Joseph back to his anguished family and was promised the cash was coming his way.

However, in Monday's double bill there was a twist when Chesney was quizzed by police about how Joseph came to be found by Clint. "I can imagine he's pretty made up as well with that reward," said the officer. "He knew your son and he's a friend of the family and there's a big reward." And Chesney was fuming that they appeared to be insinuating that he was involved. "Are you actually saying I had something to do with this as well?" he asked. "You're trying to make out that because we're skint and my son was bullied for it that we somehow made all this up just to get our hands on that money." Corrie fans took to Twitter to say it reminded them of the real-life case of Shannon Matthews.