A major storyline in the popular soap Coronation Street could come to a climax in Whitehaven.

Filming started on the harbourside on Tuesday after ITV crews moved into the town on Monday.

Show stars Connor McIntyre and Sue Cleaver were spotted on a boat, fuelling speculation that, McIntyre's character, Pat Phelan's final scenes could be shot in West Cumbria.

Corrie criminal Phelan, voted villain of the year at the British Soap Awards in 2016, has been responsible for a number of murders on the cobbles.

He is married to Eileen, played by Cleaver, and the pair, who were seen in Bransty on Monday night, have been filming in the harbour.

Will Tillotson allowed the crew to use his boat to film the scenes.

He said: "It was really interesting. Everyone was very friendly, but it was very cold.

"I got a message in early January asking if they could use my boat and of course I said yes.

"I'm interested to see the boat, to see, once they edit it, what the scenes look like and to see Whitehaven."

An ITV spokesman said: "We searched for many months to find the right location for this important filming. Whitehaven proved to be perfect for what the director required and everyone was hugely helpful in making the planning and organisation of filming run smoothly.

"The marina and harbour provided us with the perfect backdrop to a hugely dramatic development in the Pat Phelan plot line."

Fans of the show have been speculating on Facebook about why filming is taking place in Whitehaven, with many suggesting it may be related to Phelan's storyline.

Joan Telford said: "Could this be anything to do with Phelan's death?"

And Jenna Cairns said: "Think they're filming Phelan's demise."

Caravans and vans arrived in the town on Monday, taking over Wellington Pit car park, while the path towards the lighthouse was also closed.

A red van which has been used by Phelan in the show was also spotted on the harbourside.

The episodes are expected to air at the end of March.

Coronation Street, which has been running since 1960, airs six times a week, between 7.30pm and 8pm and 8.30pm and 9pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.