Coronation Street fans were heartbroken tonight when they bid a fond farewell to one of the soap’s beloved characters.

The ITV series is known for exits that pull at the heartstrings, whether it was late star Anne Kirkbride’s screen adieu or character Hayley Cropper’s death bed scene.

But this time it was the sad turn of four-legged friend Ozzy, Maria and Kirk’s dog who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Probably the saddest @itvcorrie ever😓 https://t.co/1OABsA3H4n

— Jasmin Taylor🍓 (@jasmintaylor3) September 29, 2016

I was crying all the way through tonight's @itvcorrie😭😭 can't believe Ozzy has died💔😫 @realsamia #RIPOzzy #Corrie

— SoapSpoilers&Gossip. (@Soap_loverxx) September 29, 2016

I can't watch Ozzy get put down on #CoronationStreet 💔😢

— Miss York GB2016🇬🇧 (@abiprudhoe) September 29, 2016

The brother and sister were given the devastating news by their vet, who came over to Maria’s place to put him down.

There were tearful scenes as Maria and Kirk sang Beach Boys classic God Only Knows to their dog during his final moments.

Coronation street is breaking me absolute heart here with the dog being put down😥

— amber (@4mber_) September 29, 2016

@itvcorrie #Corrie Did Maria cry this much over Liam dying ?

— mellers1313 (@Mel_Navan) September 29, 2016

But one silver lining came from the storyline – Kirk asked wife Beth, who he’d fallen out with, to come over and sit with him while it happened, sparking hopes their romance could be back on.