EastEnders fans were left sobbing as Walford gathered to say goodbye to Shakil Kazemi in a special episode featuring families of knife crime victims.

Friday night’s episode saw a devastated Carmel Kazemi – played by Bonnie Langford – supported by son Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) alongside friends and family as they attended Shakil’s funeral.

Shakil was fatally stabbed back in May in a storyline highlighting the issue of youth gangs and knife crime in the capital.

In the heartbreaking funeral episode the BBC included real-life accounts from parents who have lost children to knife crime.

Bereaved parents, including George Kinsella whose son Ben was stabbed to death 10 years ago, told their stories in a moving episode.

The final scene had viewers in tears as the special contributors held up pictures of their late loved ones while Abide With Me was played.

One wrote: “#EastEnders Powerful and wonderful. Exactly what soaps should be doing. @bbceastenders."

While another said: "Such a powerful, heartbreaking episode of @bbceastenders and a tribute to all the lives lost in such a senseless way #eastenders."

A different post read: "Congratulations to @bbceastenders for approaching a very difficult storyline so well. Congratulations to the writers, actors and real life victims on tonight's episode. #EastEnders."

"I just got goosebumps. Powerful stuff. #EastEnders," one viewer said of the final scene.

Somebody else tweeted: "Now that is hard hitting, to see all the families with the pictures of their loved ones, makes a huge impact. #EastEnders."

The real-life accounts featured in the episode have also been made into a short film by BBC Three.

EastEnders continues Monday at 8pm on BBC One.