Safiyya Vorajee fights tears on ITV’s Lorraine as she opens up on split from Ashley Cain after daughter Azaylia’s death

SAFIYYA Vorajee held back tears today as she spoke of working with ex Ashley Cain on the foundation they set up after the death of daugher Azaylia.

The grieving mum appeared on ITV's Lorraine ahead of the release of her new book Loving And Losing You.

The book comes from the diary she wrote when her baby daughter was diagnosed and treated for leukaemia, before Azaylia tragically died at eight months old in April last year.

In the wake of her death, the aesthetics technician and former footballer Ashley set up The Azaylia Foundation to help other families going through similar experiences.

Turning her thoughts to ex-boyfriend Ashley, she said: "I wanted (the book) to be hopeful at the end because we have the Azaylia foundation, where we are working so, so hard together, myself and Ashley.

"We are like ... I feel emotional...

"We are working so hard with The Azaylia Foundation to change a system that has been underfunded for childhood cancer for so long.

"And we are working hard to advance early diagnosis. And to bring new treatments to the UK and it really does make such a big difference."

Lorraine said she was sorry the pair were no longer "together as a couple", but said they were "very much united" and Safiyya replied: "We will always honour Azaylia, and mine and Ashley's friendship is so strong together, we're really good."

Safiyya also admitted that she believes there is a "higher purpose in life" and that if it "wasn't for the Azaylia foundation," she and Ashley "probably wouldn't be here".

Viewers were left in floods of tears following the interview and one said on Twitter: "I’m a 43 yo man, why is this story effecting me soooo much😣."

Another said: "My heart goes out to Safiyya & Ashley. I can’t imagine the pain they are going through, losing Azaylia. They are both so strong."

A third called Safiyaa a "beautiful mum," and they would "definitely be buying her book".