CORONATION Street has been cleared by TV watchdogs after it allegedly showed scenes of bullying and torture.

A total of 31 viewers complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom about an episode shown last October featuring womanising builder Charlie Stubbs tying up teenager David Platt and forcing his head under water.

Viewers claimed such scenes were unacceptable and should not be shown before the 9pm watershed. They also feared they might be imitated.

But Ofcom decided the scene was "editorially justified".

ITV1 insisted the audience knew that Charlie, played by Bill Ward, was a womanising bully and were prepared for the confrontation.

The broadcaster said the warning "Charlie has a nasty surprise for David" before the programme hinted at what was to come.

The episode showed Charlie luring David, played by Jack Shepherd, into a flat to exact revenge for weeks of taunting over an affair.

Ofcom said: "Even if there were some risk of imitation, we believe that the scenes were editorially justified by the plot development, the characters involved and the manner in which it was edited."

But it said the broadcaster could have given more warning about the violent content before the episode.