Have-a-go "golden girls" who fought off an armed carjacker believe they are the inspiration for a dramatic soap storyline.

The trio of retired women, who were applauded for their bravery in disarming the gunman, think their real-life terror prompted the TV drama.

Last week, Coronation Street viewers saw Rita Sullivan's birthday outing turn into a nightmare when a young man pulled a gun on them.

The incident almost perfectly mirrors the attack on Jean Douglas, Anne Aylward and Joan Windsor in France last autumn.

Joan, of Eaton Gardens, Hove, said: "In the show, Rita, Betty, Emily and Blanche had driven into the country for the day when a young man pulls out a gun. They are scared but between them they manage to fight him off.

"I think they copied us. The details were slightly different but I think it was inspired by what happened to us."

Joan and her friends hit the headlines last October when they took a day trip to Calais. They pulled up outside a shop and, as driver Jean reversed, a man opened the door and pointed a gun into the car.

The man tried to grab the car keys but Jean hit one arm while Joan leaned over from the passenger seat and thumped the other arm, making him drop the gun.

Joan then grabbed the weapon, jumped out of the car and began pistol-whipping the attacker.

The man pulled Jean from the driving seat, jumped in and drove off. However, Anne, who was still in the back seat, grabbed him round the neck and throttled him, making him swerve and crash the car.

Coronation Street spokeswoman Alison Sinclair said it was "entirely possible" the Sussex trio were the inspiration for the storyline.

She said: "We have a big team of writers and they get their ideas from all walks of life - real-life events, stories in the newspapers, absolutely anywhere. This incident could indeed have been inspired by these ladies."

Sussex Police said while they applauded the bravery of the women, they did not recommend tackling an armed hijacker.