EastEnders has announced it has scrapped a story-line about child abduction because it is too close to the real-life disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The episode has already been shot and was due to have been screened late next month.

Scroll down for more

The storyline was set to centre on Rob Minter and Dawn Swann

Dr May Wright also featured in the plot

But out of respect to the youngster's parents bosses of the popular show decided yesterday that a new plot had to be written.

The abduction in the long-running soap involved characters Dawn Swann, played by Kara Tointon, Rob Minter (Stuart Laing) and Rob's wife May (Amanda Drew).

An spokeswoman for the show confirmed: "In the current circumstances it was felt any storyline that included child abduction would be inappropriate and could cause distress to our viewers."

"It was felt any story-line that included a child abduction was inappropriate and could cause distress."

Police are still searching for 4-year-old Madeline, who vanished 18 days ago in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

Last month, Coronation Street producers announced plans to axe a main summer storyline about a snatched baby.

The Corrie plot had featured the kidnap of baby Freddie Peacock following a fire in the famous cobbled street.

Scenes from the forthcoming episodes were to feature the character's mother, Claire, at press conferences clutching her baby's teddy and handing out photos of the missing child to other Street residents and appealing for their help in tracing Freddie.

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: "We would not wish to add to the family's anguish at this terrible time and we are currently reviewing our storyline including episodes which have already been filmed.

"There were some quite disturbing similarities to the situation in Portugal and we didn't want to add to the torment of Madeleine's parents."