JOEY Essex has become the first celebrity ambassador for Saunderton based Child Bereavement UK.

The star of The Only Way Is Essex and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here lost his own mum when he was ten.

He said: "It was really hard when my mum died, so I'm very happy to help Child Bereavement UK, so they can support other kids, and parents like my dad, who are going through what we went through."

The charity supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Joey met some of the charity's young people at its fundraising Onesie Walk in Brentwood earlier this year.

He said: "It’s a huge honour for me to be able to help raise awareness of Child Bereavement UK and the great work it does. It’s really tough being bereaved as a kid and I want other people to find the support I didn’t get. Child Bereavement UK is a charity that’s really close to my heart."