Coronation Street's Sally Metcalfe to battle mystery intruder on Halloween

Coronation Street's Sally Metcalfe gets a fright next week when she has a terrifying encounter in her own home.

As Sally is targeted by a mystery intruder, is this just a harmless Halloween prank gone wrong, or is something more sinister afoot on the street?

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"It's that time of year again, and as the pumpkins come out we're all a little bit more on edge than usual," begins our Corrie insider. "A series of spooky happenings leaves Sally seriously rattled.

"Not only that, Lucy's behaviour is becoming increasingly challenging, so it's all trick and no treat for poor Sal…"

Sally feels out of her depth as a foster carer since she and Tim took in traumatised teenager Lucy following her mum's death. Lucy's dad – Tim's cousin Richie – has been banged up for the crime, but father and daughter are hiding the truth that Lucy murdered her own mother during an argument.

Volatile Lucy's mood swings have unsettled Sally, but she's trying her best to give the grieving girl some guidance. Desperate for independence, Lucy asks Tim and Sally if she can go to a school friend's party. But once the Metcalfes learn there'll be no adults present, they refuse.

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When Sally and Tim ask Lucy to take Joanie to the Rovers' Halloween party, the angry adolescent is resentful she's missing her mate's bash. Joanie is worried when she gets wind of a riot at her dad's prison, but Sally tries to reassure her and packs the girls off to the pub. And that's when things get scary…

"Sally hears a noise and peeks through the window," teases our source. "She gets the shock of her life when she sees a ghostly figure outside! Telling neighbours Lisa and Carla she thinks Mick might've escaped again, Sal's fears are further fuelled by a series of crank phone calls.

"A power cut then plunges the whole street into darkness, and when a shadowy figure enters the house, Sally smashes a vase over their head!"

The identity of the mysterious intruder is eventually revealed, sending shockwaves across the cobbles. Why was this person targeting Sal and her family?

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The morning after the menacing moment, social worker Ruth pays a surprise visit. She explains that Lucy called her, and there are things she urgently needs to discuss with Tim and Sally. As Ruth sits down with the grown-ups, Lucy shoots Sally a devious look before heading out so they can talk freely. Why did Lucy contact social services?

"Ruth reveals Lucy has been keeping a secret journal," explains our insider. "It's full of accusations about Sally, claiming she is controlling and that she says horrible things about Lucy behind her back! This makes no sense, why has Lucy done this when Sally's gone out of her way to try and help her?"

While Sally and Tim process this latest bombshell, Lucy bumps into Christina Boyd, who she has no idea is actually her long-lost grandmother. Christina listens sympathetically as Lucy offloads, and is upset to hear how unhappy she is with her foster family.

What will the consequences be of Lucy's outrageous lies about Sally?

Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.

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