Coronation Street fans have been left devastated as two characters die in Christmas siege.

The long-running soap's Christmas Day episode saw Derek Milligan go on a  rampage through the cobbles with an antique rifle, searching for Gary Windass. However, Robert Preston got caught in the crossfire after Derek fired a shot through the door of the Rovers Return. The former bistro owner had gone to the van to get a gift for his newborn son, and was returning to the pub for help wrapping it when he was struck. And while he was rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries and died before he was able to see his son. Derek, meanwhile, followed Gary towards the Christmas Fair - where the Platt family were celebrating David's birthday. He shot Gary in the shoulder, before climbing to the top of the Heater Skelter. The loan shark tried to wrestle the gun away from Derek, but the gun fired a shot - which hit the box the Shona had been hiding in. He then fell from the top of the Heater Skelter, before hitting the cobbles below. And viewers were particularly heartbroken by Robert's death - especially as he had been making plans to be near his newborn son.  

I know what Robert did was terrible but I really didn’t want him to die :( #corrie

— Aaliyah❤️ (@peterlovescarla) December 25, 2019

Okay.. when I said I wanted someone to die this Christmas.. I wasnt expecting Robert to get killed off #Corrie pic.twitter.com/u36NZozwwN

— C H L O ? ? (@_chloooex) December 25, 2019

Feel so bad for robert dying without meeting his son ??#Corrie

— αму (@unbroken_amy) December 25, 2019

this is the scariest game of hide and seek i’ve ever witnessed #corrie

— kat?? (@Alison_King_Fan) December 25, 2019

That was a cruel way to go poor Robert ?

— Donna Nagle (@2c192b6500994f8) December 25, 2019

We are still getting over shock of how Robert was shot.

— ??Dawn Evans?? (@dawneva3) December 25, 2019