The Jacob Hay actor announced the sad death on Instagram (Picture: ITV)

FormerCoronation Street star Jack James Ryan has opened up about a family death which left him 'devastated'.

The Jacob Hay actor took to his Instagram stories to announce the passing of his beloved family dog, Frank.

The sweet picture showed Jack holding Franks face as if he was about to kiss him, showing what a close bond they had.

Beneath the photo, Jack wrote: 'Utterly devastated to say we lost my best boy Frank today very unexpectedly to an aggressive cancer.'

He want on to describe Frank as 'the best mate a guy could ask for'.

Jack said a heartfelt goodbye to his four-legged friend (Picture: Instagram / Jack James Ryan)

He followed the post with a picture of Frank alongside his two other family dogs, calling them 'The iconic trio'.

Jack left Coronation Street earlier this year, following the arrival of Jacob's dad, Damon (Ciaran Griffiths) on the Street.

The character was forced to flee in order to save heartbroken girlfriend Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) after he got rid of a high quantity of his dad's drugs.

Speaking at the time of his exit, Jack said that he found the decision to leave a 'really hard' one, as he 'loved the character so much'.

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'I’m still young and there’s so much stuff that I want to go and do. I also felt like I’d come and done what I intended to do.

'We talk about the Corrie bingo card, where you tick off things that you’ve done.

'I mean, apart from a wedding and the tram crash, I feel like he’s done it all in two years! So, it just felt like the right time to leave the show.'

Jack hasn't entirely ruled out a return to the Cobbles, saying that he would 'never say never', and likes the idea of dropping a bombshell in Amy's life once she's settled with a new man in the future.

'I think it would be cool to get that opportunity to clear his name, because he really does deserve it.'

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