Child kidnap plot for 'Neighbours'

Long-standing Neighbours character Steph Scully is to face fresh heartbreak when her young son Charlie is snatched, it has been revealed.

According to TV Week, Charlie will go missing in mysterious circumstances in episodes which are soon to air in Australia - leaving Steph panicked as she wonders what could have happened.

It is understood that the storyline kicks off as Charlie is enjoying some Halloween festivities with Steph's stepdaughter Summer Hoyland (Jordy Lucas) and her friends. After Summer takes her eyes off Charlie for only a split second, she is horrified to discover that he is nowhere to be found.

Reports suggest that the shock storyline will tie in with the return of a character who wants to cause pain to both Steph and Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine).

However, the identity of the person in question is yet to be confirmed, while details of what they want with Charlie are also currently unknown.

Carla Bonner - who plays Steph - announced back in June that she had decided to leave the soap. Producers have promised that Steph's forthcoming exit storyline will "do the character proud".