Kym Marsh has been left "heartbroken" after her uncle died of coronavirus.
The 43-year-old actress was devastated to hear her beloved uncle George had passed away alone in hospital after contracting the deadly respiratory disease.
Writing in her OK! magazine column, she said: "You hear about people losing their loved ones during this time and people passing away alone in hospitals and only a few people attending their funerals.
"But when it happens to you and your family, it really brings this whole thing home. It breaks my heart to think of him being alone in that hospital."
George was living in a care home where he contracted the virus before he was taken to hospital for treatment.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star and her family were unable to visit George in hospital due to social distancing rules, but they were able to send video messages, which were played to George by nurses before he died.
Kym praised her uncle and dubbed him the "life and soul" of the party as he used to pretend to be her bodyguard.
She continued: "My uncle George was an amazing man and I have so many happy memories of him.
"He was a great guy and the life and soul of any party. Sleep tight uncle George."
Kym has recently praised the NHS for their care and support through this tough time, and for helping to save her family’s lives on a number of occasions.
She said: "The NHS saved my dad’s life, they saved my daughter’s life, they saved my son’s life, and they saved my life, I am forever in their debt.
"My dad [David] suffered two heart attacks and without the amazing care and attention of doctors and nurses he wouldn’t be with us today.
"The first of those heart attacks was 26 years ago, and he’s still with us today and is 75 years old."