BELL Dingle is set to get a horrible shock in the New Year as her twisted ex-boyfriend makes a return to Emmerdale.

The teen is left shaken when she receives a package of dead flowers and despite trying to reassure Belle that it’s probably nothing, everyone is left unsettled by their arrival.

Belle – who is played by Eden Taylor-Draper – is convinced that Lachlan is behind the stunt and becomes increasingly frustrated when no one seems to believe her.

Later Lydia Hart is worried when she gets a frantic phone call from boyfriend Sam Dingle and when she arrives at Wishing Well Cottage she’s horrified to find Sam covered in blood and that Gloria the pig has been killed.

A worked up Belle is hell-bent on seeing Lachlan – returning star Thomas Atkinson - who is currently in prison awaiting trial for killing Gerry Roberts, Chrissie and Lawrence White and conman Paul Tozer who tried to pass himself off as Gerry’s fake uncle Terry.

She’s convinced he’s behind the horrible goings on at home and – accompanied by Sam – heads off to the prison to visit him.

As she faces her ex-boyfriend Belle isn’t fooled by Lachlan’s display of remorse.

But Sam is well and truly taken in by him and believes the killer has really changed.

But later Lachlan will be seen taking out a hidden mobile phone and making a call to someone, telling them to up the ante in their scheming.

Charity – understanding what Belle is going through as Lachlan’s trial looms – insists to Belle that he’s going to be sent down for a very long time and Belle does her best to believe it.

But is Charity right?

Or will Lachlan somehow be back in the village to terrorise Belle even more?