IF you believe in karma what comes around goes around then last night's drama in EastEnders has been a long time coming.

Phil and Grant Mitchell have done a lot of dodgy things in their time, not least when they turned up wearing those matching camp leather biker jackets.

The bad-boy gangster-style grudge match between Johnny Allen and the Mitchell brothers has always been around.

The square is only big enough for one pub, an over-priced mini-mart and a shabby market so it definitely ain't big enough for two camps of hard men.

Trouble's been bubbling under that surface for a while now, which is unlike EastEnders scriptwriters who seem to prefer the instant shock of giving Pat a personality transplant and having her seduce Patrick.

Starting with a few idle threats, the malice grew. And we know a death was imminent when Phil paid Juley to sleep with Johnny's beloved daughter Ruby.

And we all know when faaaaamily are involved, there's no messing around.

By Thursday the gore-level in the square had reached fever pitch. There was even talk of chopping off Peggy Mitchell's fingers, for goodness sake!

Did they have Quentin Tarantino in for a spot of guest directing or something?

In classic EastEnders style, it's going to be a while before the truth behind last night's action emerges, so expect lots of froth involving Dot, Jim and Billy and Honey while we wait.