EMMERDALE viewers were left unimpressed this evening as they watched a character being murdered.

In shock scenes, which aired well before the watershed, John Sugden was seen shooting Mackenzie Boyd in the back with an arrow, after an argument.

Later, viewers saw the boot of John’s van with blood stains and a body covered by a sheet.

The episode ended with a flashback of John throwing a heavy rock down at a helpless Mackenzie.

The brutal act sparked outrage and fans rushed to complain, with one person commenting: “Love emmerdale but this all seemed  a bit much with the violence  and the crossbow seemed in bad taste what with the recent real life tragedies.”

A second said:  “@ofcom complaints incoming and this time you take action.”

While a third added: “Isn’t this a tad violent for early evening.”

“The writers have really crossed line bow and arrow after crossbow killings not right,” said a fourth.

A fifth added: “A bit distasteful isn’t it having a serial killer kill someone with a bow and arrow havent you got any compassion for a presenter who lost his entire family by a bow and Arrow in real life.”

It comes after the real life murder of three people by crossbow killer Kyle Clifford in July of last year.

Viewers have watched John Sugden’s reign of terror play out over the last several months.

It comes after The Sun revealed that Lawrence Robb, who played Mackenzie, had filmed devastating murder scenes for his character.

A source said at the time: “The scenes are going to be really harrowing for fans to watch.

“Mackenzie has been in so many scrapes and dangerous positions but this time it looks like he’s bitten off more than he can chew.

“Viewers will be on the edges of their seats watching what happens.”