James 'Arg' Argent is "absolutely heartbroken and in bits" following the death of Mark Wright's uncle Edward.

James Argent and friend Edward (c) Instagram

James Argent and friend Edward (c) Instagram

The 33-year-old reality star has been left devastated following the passing of Edward – who is the father of Elliott Wright – who died following an eight-week battle with coronavirus.

The former 'The Only Way is Essex' star recalled how Edward and his wife Deborah supported him through his battle with addiction, and thanked him for standing by him "throughout my best and darkest moments".

In the touching tribute, Arg also admitted that it's "time for me to take care and support others like they have done for me."

In a lengthy tribute on Instagram, he wrote alongside some throwback snaps with Edward:  "RIP Eddie We may not have the same blood but your certainly family to me & I love you very much!

We’ve lost a massive personality who meant so much to us. Things will never be the same without you, I can’t imagine travelling to Spain & performing at Olivias’s without you being there, Looking out from stage seeing you Smiling & dancing. Coming round to you for breakfast discussing how great the night before was. We have so many great memories to cherish. You & Deborah have done so much for me, You stood by me throughout my best & darkest moments. It’s time for me to take care & support others like they have done for me. I’m absolutely heartbroken & in bits.

Love always to my closest friends, The whole Wright family (sic)"

The sweet tribute comes after Mark admitted he was “broken to pieces” to hear the sad news.

Posting on social media, he wrote: "You’d have to be God to find a better man than my uncle. Put simply, you won’t. I love you uncle Eddie, I’m never going to forget you. Broken to pieces. (sic)”

Mark’s cousin Elliott hailed his father as a “great” and “humble” man and said he was “simply devastated” by the news.

Mark revealed Edward’s COVID-19 diagnosis in January.

He said at the time: "My dad's brother, uncle Eddie, Elliott's dad, he's not in a good place, he's in a critical condition as we speak and just praying every night we're gonna have a miracle and he's gonna get better.

"We're getting good news from the hospital each day that he's improving, he's not getting worse.”