Former Britain's Got Talent winner Ashleigh Butler has revealed that her beloved dog Pudsey has sadly passed away.

The popular duo won the sixth series of the reality TV series together back in 2012.

Ashleigh Butler Instagram

"I can't honestly believe I am writing these words," Ashleigh wrote on Instagram in a post which has since been deleted, as she broke the news to her followers. "My handsome man has gone, and I don't know what to do without him.

"My heart is broken, and I don't know how I'm going to get through this.

"It hurts so much that my handsome, incredible Pudsey Bear will never be by my side, where he belongs, again.

"We only had 11 years together, but they were the best years ever. He was my one-in-a-billion dog that will never be replaced. I don't need to write all of his endless accomplishments on here to prove how incredible he was for me.

"Sleep tight my handsome man, I love you lots."

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In a statement to Digital Spy, Ashleigh added: "On the Thursday July 20, 2017, after PUDSEY'S short battle against leukaemia, I had to make the hardest decision of my life to let my beautiful boy go to sleep AT THE AGE OF 11.

"From the minute he was born he brought nothing but joy to me, and as a winner of BGT millions of others who adored him too. No words can express just how much I will miss him. He changed my life and I have so many wonderful memories of our time together. He will always be in my heart."

Also remembering Pudsey on Friday was the official Britain's Got Talent Twitter account, as well as BGT judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams (who voiced the much-loved dog in Pudsey The Dog: The Movie):