Former Mansfield Town footballer Ashley Cain's baby daughter Azaylia dies after leukaemia battle

Ashley and girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee’s daughter Azaylia was diagnosed with an aggressive rare form of the disease when she was just two months old.

The 30-year-old, who made 20 appearances for the Stags during the 2010-11 campaign, took to Instagram to break the tragic news on Sunday.

"Rest In Paradise Princess. I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven," he wrote, as he shared the heart-breaking announcement with his 1.7 million followers.

Ashley, who also appeared on reality show Ex On The Beach, and Safiyya recently raised more than £1.5 million to fund a trip to Singapore for a life-saving transplant – but Azaylia was then unable to fly out to the Far East after the the couple received the devastating news that further tumours had been discovered.