'OUR KYLIE WILL SAVE NEIGHBOURS!'

CAN THE FORMER SOAP STAR HELP HER GOOD FRIENDS IN THEIR HOUR OF NEED?

Fans have been left reeling after it was announced that longrunning Australian drama Neighbours is set to be axed from British television after nearly four decades.

Channel 5 in the UK will no longer air the popular program that launched the careers of Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce.

"Our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers," said a spokesperson.

The UK station has largely funded Neighbours since 2008, so unless its Australian-based production company, Fremantle, can find another international broadcaster, this could be the nail in the coffin for the series that began in 1985.