Corrie's Charles 'almost shot by police'

Coronation Street star Craig Charles was reportedly almost shot by a police sniper while filming a movie.

Charles was shooting a gangster film on the River Medway in Kent when armed officers trained their guns on him after he committed a "murder" for a scene, reports the Daily Star.

It is thought that the picture's producers forgot to report the filming to local police.

Before firing, the sniper apparently recognised Charles and other officers spied his co-star, Cold Feet actor John Thomson, in a nearby boatyard.

"We had been trying to conceal the filming from the public," director Tony Royden said.

He added: "But apparently the police received five different phone calls telling them someone was being murdered."

Royden stated that Charles remained calm during the incident and later insisted that he continue filming the scene.

"Luckily, Craig Charles was such a professional that the whole situation was defused extremely quickly," the helmer said. "If it hadn't been, we could have seen a tragic death."

The film, titled The Dealer, is based on a book by Royden.