EMMERDALE fans have slammed one villager for 'bad parenting' after leaving their 10-year-old son at home by himself.
The character in question has been part of the ITV soap for over two decades.
Viewers weren't happy with Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) after she seemingly left her 10-year-old adoptive son Carl (Charlie Munro Joyce) home alone.
The boy had been at home feeling unwell when Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke) arrived, frustrated with his own mother Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy).
Nicola sent Carl upstairs to sort out some laundry, while she spoke to Arthur.
Fans were especially frustrated at it seemed the youngster had been trying to tell Nicola something.
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Taking to X, one person wrote: "Nicola isn’t a very good mother.
"Carl was trying to tell her something yet will listen to Arthur who isn’t your son. Bad parenting sorry. #Emmerdale."
Another commented: "Come on Carl, surely you’ve paired the socks by now.
"Go and tell your Mum what you saw……oh hang on your Mums just left you home alone #Emmerdale."
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A third penned: "Carl - run out of the house! #emmerdale."
While a fourth remarked: "Carl is too young to be left in the house on his own… #Emmerdale."
It comes as soap fans hoped Carl could expose his cousin Tom King (James Chase) as an abuser and coercive controller.
Tom has been tormenting his estranged wife Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) in a storyline spanning several months.
This culminated in Belle attacking Tom with an axe, although he survived - and managed to get his hands on a key piece of evidence.
Although Belle knew there was likely evidence of Tom's abuse on his iPad.
Nicola King's biggest Emmerdale storylines
Nicola King (formerly Blackstock) has been a part of Emmerdale since 2001.
Here is a look back at some of her past storylines from over the years.
- Marrying Jimmy King (2010): Nicola married fellow villager Jimmy King (Nick Miles). They have one daughter, Angelica, while Jimmy has two sons with other women.
- Relationship with Carlos Diaz: Having developed an attraction to chef Carlos, Nicola chased him for some time - unaware of his affair with her half-sister, Bernice. Nicola proposed and Carlos accepted, but their wedding was called off on the day itself.
- Jimmy's amnesia: In 2011, Nicola is faced with her husband Jimmy having no memory of her or their daughter. This came about after Jimmy was involved in accident and being treated in hospital. Kelly takes advantage of the situation - with Nicola and Jimmy seemingly heading for a divorce, but they pull through.
- Fire injuries: June 2016 sees Nicola caught up in a fire started by Rakesh Kotecha (Pasha Bocarie). Pulled out by Ronnie Hale (John McArdle) and Dan Spencer (Liam Fox), she is partially paralysed and told she might never walk again, but ultimately recovers.
However, he nabbed it before the police - but was seen smashing it to pieces by Carl.
To cover his tracks - and ensure Carl's silence - Tom got him a remote controlled toy car in return for not mentioning what he saw.
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Will Tom be brought to justice?
Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.