Mark Wright and Kayla Collins split

'The Only Way Is Essex' star Mark Wright has split from girlfriend Kayla Collins.

The serial dater started romancing the Playboy model Kayla two months ago, but their relationship has now come to an end after she flew back to her home in Los Angeles to care for her cat, Baby Boo.

The 23-year-old hunk told The Sun newspaper: "She's gone back to look after her pet. Hopefully she'll return but it's difficult as she's got commitments. We're still talking. But since she's gone back she's gone off a little bit. I hope we can see each other again."

However, news of the split will please Mark's ex-girlfriend and co-star Lauren Goodger, who had threatened to pull out of the new series of the ITV2 show if Kayla was going to appear in it.

A source close to Lauren - who dated Mark for nine years - explained to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Lauren was tired of hearing people say what 'cute babies' Mark and Kayla would make and she was furious when she saw pictures of the 'good looking couple' posing together.

"Lauren put the pressure on and the ITV2 producers didn't want to lose one of their central characters so Mark and Kayla split."

The new series of the reality TV show starts on March 20.