IS it a case of art imitating life or just a coincidence?

A new television series to be screened in the autumn tells the story of an investigation into the actions of a senior police officer, famed for his "zero tolerance" approach to tackling crime.

Programme makers Granada Television - the creators of Coronation Street - insist the story is fiction.

The two-part thriller, called Tough Love, stars Ray Winstone as unambitious Detective Constable Lenny Milton and Adrian Dunbar as his best friend, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Love.

DCI Love "is tough, charismatic and successful", says Granada's promotional material. "Adored by his troops and the public, his crusade against crime through a policy of zero tolerance has won many plaudits," it continues.

Then, DC Milton is shocked when he is called in to investigate his friend after complaints are made about the legality of some of his work.

Cleveland Police yesterday refused to comment on any possible comparisons between the new drama and the multi-million pound Operation Lancet.

As part of that investigation, zero tolerance champion Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon has just been cleared of any criminal activity, after he was suspended from duty for two-and-a-half-years.

The drama, written by Edward Canfor-Dumas, is one of the flagship programmes in Granada Television's autumn schedule. A spokeswoman said: "It is a fictional story and is definitely a drama."

But one of Det Supt Mallon's fiercest supporters, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Ashok Kumar, stressed that, despite the detective being cleared of criminal wrongdoing, Operation Lancet is not yet completed.

He said: "Television does pick up on things from real life. Of course, we hope it would not prejudice anything but after all this is a national news story."

Det Supt Mallon was not available to talk about the drama yesterday.

Ray Winstone has been nominated for two BAFTAs, including one this year for his role as Alan in Births, Marriages and Deaths, on BBC. He has also appeared in films including Fanny and Elvis, Quadrophenia and Nil By Mouth.

Adrian Dunbar has appeared in Cracker and Woman's Guide to Adultery on television, as well as Richard III and The Crying Game on the big screen.

There were no clues from Granada last night as to whether DCI Love, like Det Supt Mallon in real life, will be cleared of all criminal charges