Former Love Island presenter Caroline Flack found dead at home age 40

A lawyer for the Flack family confirmed that Caroline took her own life and was found in her east London flat on Saturday.

The troubled Love Island star stepped down from presenting the show for its first-ever winter series after she was charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, at her then flat in Islington, north London, in December.

She entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court and she was released on bail with conditions that stopped her having any contact with Burton ahead of a trial on March 4.

Caroline had recently returned back to the UK after retreating to Los Angeles in the aftermath of the incident.

Her family said in a statement: "We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today, the 15th of February.

"We would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us and/or photograph us."

BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker was among the people paying tribute to Flack following news of her death.

He tweeted: "Awful news about Caroline Flack. We really need to be better at taking care of each other. So sad".

This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield paid tribute to Flack with a post on his Instagram stories.

He added text above a message that Flack had posted on social media, which read: "In a world where you can be anything, be kind".

Schofield wrote: "You poor darling girl my heart is breaking #BeKind".

Former Love Island contestant Amber Davies, who won the ITV2 series in 2017, tweeted: "My heart is actually broken."

Radio and TV presenter Edith Bowman tweeted: "I can't quite believe what has happened. Caroline you didn't deserve this. Such sad and tragic news. Love to all her family.

"The media and social media have SO much to answer for. RIP Lovely Flack".

Former Love Island contestant Wes Nelson wrote a long message on Instagram next to a picture of himself with Flack.

He wrote: "I can't believe what I'm reading! Caroline Flack was an absolute diamond, my hearts genuinely broken! One of the warmest funniest people I've ever met, I have nothing but great memories! It was just weeks since we were chatting away!".