The Apprentice star Jessica Cunningham has been left devastated after her ex-boyfriend Alistair Eccles was found dead.

The 30-year-old reality star has recently spoken of how happy she was to have found love again with new boyfriend Alex Daw.

But now she has been hit by fresh heartache after the 35-year-old - father to her three children - was found hanging by police at his home in Burnley last week and later pronounced dead in hospital.

Former Apprentice star Jessica Cunningham has been hit by tragedy just a week after posting this picture of herself and her daughters with new boyfriend Alex Daw, writing how he had brought her happiness and was helping her face the challenges of being a single parent

It is believed Ms Cunningham and Mr Daw, pictured with her daughters, have been seeing each other since March

Alistair Eccles, pictured, the ex boyfriend of Ms Cunningham, has been found dead in Burnley, Lancashire. Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious

Apprentice star Jessica Cunningham (pictured at events earlier this year) had three daughters with Mr Eccles. A spokesman said she is concentrating on supporting them

Ms Cunningham is concentrating on supporting her daughters, who she calls her' queens'

A spokesman for Jessica, who also took part in Celebrity Big Brother last year, said: 'Despite their break up, Alistair was a really good father to their children.'

The spokesman added: 'Jessica is politely asking for some privacy at this devastating time so that she can protect their three girls.'

Just last week she posted a picture on Facebook of herself and her new partner with her daughters.

In an Instagram post of herself, Mr Daw, and her children, she wrote about the challenges she has faced as a single mother and how her new partner was helping her overcome them

She wrote: 'This picture makes me feel so bloody happy. For all the single parents out there... DO NOT SETTLE.

'I always said the right person will come along at the right time and he did.

'Being a single mum can come with insecurities and questions such as "am I good enough", "will someone accept me and my children" "will I be in the same situation again" - I had loads of questions, so I decided not to worry about finding love, but to work harder, be the best version of myself for my children and to give my all in every possible situation.

'Once I started to do that, magic happened, doors opened, opportunities came and the right person came at the right time.

'Whenever you feel scared for the future, feel grateful for whatever goodness you have in the present and concentrate on how to make things better. Know your worth.'

Mr Eccles was found dead at home last Friday and a police statement confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: 'We were called shortly before 3am on August 11 following a report that a 35-year-old man had been taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after he had been found hanging at an address in Burnley.

'He was sadly pronounced deceased at hospital. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to the coroner.'

Friends posted tributes to him online, with one writing to his brother: 'There are no words! Just heartbreaking thoughts and prayers with yours n Alistair's friends family and loved ones tonight xx'

The tragic news came just three months after the former Apprentice star announced she had found a new man, with whom she is now in a relationship

Jess and her new boyfriend have been busy on social media, with the former regularly sharing pictures of the two of them together

This picture shows the two of them messing around on a balcony. Their relationship was made public in May

Ms Cunningham has appeared on two of the UK's biggest TV shows, Celebrity Big Brother (left) and The Apprentice (right)

More pictures of Ms Cunningham and her new partner playing around at home with the three children

Another friend wrote to his family: 'So sorry to hear of your loss thinking of you all and his precious girls x'

Alistair and Jessica ran the Apprentice star's first fashion business Famous Frocks together before it went out of business in 2015.

Jessica went to school in Blackburn, Lancashire and lived in Colne and Burnley before founding a fashion firm in Sheffield.

She appeared on The Apprentice last year, but went out at the semi-final stage.

She previously spoke about the pressures of dating as a single mother and calls her daughters her 'three queens'.

Jessica said paid tribute to Mr Eccles today, saying he was a great father to her daughters

Ms Cunningham, who describes herself as a 'mother of 3 maniacs' on Twitter, regularly posted pictures of herself and her daughters online

Jessica (fourth from right dressed in green) rose to fame after appearing in the Apprentice with tycoon Sir Alan Sugar

She was running a fashion firm at the time and went out of the show at the semi-final stage

Mr Eccles was found dead at a house in this Burnley street. Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious

Alistair was previously found guilty of being part of a crime scam in 2013 and admitted money laundering, receiving a 15-month suspended jail sentence.

The publishing scam, which dated back to 2011, saw victims across Britain conned out of £740,000.

Jessica was said to have ended her relationship with Alistair shortly after his conviction and went on to TV stardom and business success.

In recent weeks, she has been posting photos of her new partner, who she refers to as 'The Hunk', with her and her children.

She recently revealed she had been hired to design a range of summer wear for online fashion brand Little Black Dress.

And, last week, she announced she was planning a collaboration with business forum Mumpreneurs Online.