MEL Owen explodes with rage after her ex-lover Jack Branning gets her son arrested in a thrilling New Year EastEnders storyline.

The scenes, which will air in 2019, show former copper Jack calling in his Police mates to nick Mel’s teenage lad Hunter.

It’s been a rollercoaster few months for Mel and this Christmas she’s gearing up to expose bigamist Ray for all he is.

But it seems her hardships will only continue, as Jack seeks to ruin 17-year-old Hunter’s life by having him locked up.

These pictures show the dramatic moment Mel, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, and Hunter are cornered by police in a derelict part of London.

Mel screams and throws her arms and legs around as she’s pulled back by police who try and restrain her son.

Hunter, played by Charlie Winter, can be seen putting up a fight in a bid to get away from the police but he’s not got a chance against the burly copper who’s holding him back.

In the background, Jack – who’s mastermind the arrest – is seen smirking as he gets out of his car and walks towards Mel and Hunter.

As she sees Jack, Mel manages to get away from the man restraining her and she runs towards him.

Mel can be seen screaming and shouting at Jack, played by Scott Maslen, who appears to be attempting to calm her down.

But his words have little impact on furious Mel and she can be seen looking mutinous after realising what Jack has done to her son.

Once Hunter is put into the back of an unmarked car, Jack gets in and appears to be attempting to talk to him.

But the angry teenager launches himself at him and throttles Jack from behind.

BBC bosses are keeping the reason for Hunter’s arrest under wraps but in the coming weeks, it’s likely his alleged crimes will be teased to viewers.

This is the last thing troubled Mel needs, as she’s spent the past few works masterminding her revenge plot to get her own back on Ray.

On New Year’s Day, Mel is preparing to walk down the aisle in what viewers know is a sham wedding to expose Ray and his other wives.

But this isn’t the only secret which will come out, as Scott revealed viewers will find out much more about Ray’s secret past in the weeks to come.

He told Digital Spy: “[Ray] doesn't have a moral compass like we do, so he just, if he can get away with it, he will, it's another thrill seek for him.

“Certainly the whole idea behind him was he is a person who loves a thrill of danger and playing that line.

“This guy is addicted to the adrenaline of the situation and anyone who goes undercover and is able to eschew their normal life and enter another world, needs to live on the edge of that.”

Speaking about her revenge plot, Tazmin added: “She does want to humiliate him.

“But I think it's more that she just doesn't want him to go on and do this again.

“He either needs to be killed, which she's not going to do, that's not her thing. So don't think it's him that's getting killed she's not about that.

“He needs to be behind bars or dead or in another country, that's the only way that it's going to work.”