EASTENDERS’ Lauren Branning left fans fearing for her unborn child after she collapsed in the street with severe stomach pains.

The pregnant mum has been battling a painkiller addiction and found herself doubled over in agony outside the car lot.

Lauren was whisked to hospital by Peter and had an emergency scan to check the health of the baby.

Thankfully for worried fans, the pair soon heard a heartbeat and they were told the baby was fit and well.

But later in Wednesday night’s episode of the BBC One soap, things took a shocking turn for Lauren.

Back at home, Lauren and Peter were visited by Cindy and Ian when their son Louie discovered an ultrasound picture from the scan under the Christmas tree.

“What’s this? Is that a baby?” Louie asked.

Lauren and Peter were forced to announce the pregnancy, while Cindy – who has been supplying illegal drugs to Lauren – looked on in shock.

Cornering her in the kitchen, Cindy then issued Lauren, who is suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms, with a disastrous ultimatum.

Grabbing back a bag of pills she had hidden for Lauren behind a canister on the kitchen counter, Cindy told her desperate daughter-in-law that the drugs supply was instantly stopping.

Lauren begged: “I need them, the pain is unbearable. You’re not supposed to just stop.”

But Cindy shot back: “I said no.”

She added: “You need help, Lauren. Proper help.

“You tell Peter what you’ve been doing to this baby and if you don’t, I will.”

EastEnders fans have been left furious with the storyline, angrily branding Cindy a “horror”.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer said: “Why is Lauren being blackmailed by Cindy? What Cindy’s done is far worse.

“Lauren’s an addict who Cindy was willing to enable whilst it suited her, Cindy’s just an idiot!”

Another added: “Omg Cindy What a horror.”

And a third chimed in: “Oh Cindy i bet you feel like a right prat now don’t ya?? Giving your daughter in law drugs what a nutter.”