Jeremy Edwards has confirmed that he will not be returning to Hollyoaks after receiving abuse on social media.

The 49-year-old was one of the original characters on the show when it launched in 1995, playing resident bad boy Kurt Benson, but he left in 1999 and Kurt was killed off in an off-screen water-skiing accident.

Kurt made a shock return to the village as part of the soap's 25th anniversary celebrations in October, revealing that he had faked his death - then going on to con multiple characters out of their savings before departing again in early December.

Now Edwards has announced that he will not be reprising the role for another stint on the show and has suggested that he was influenced in his decision by negative feedback he received online.

"It is with a heavy heart I am announcing I will NOT be returning to #Hollyoaks," he wrote on Twitter.

"Many reasons but I'd be lying if I said being judged on here hasn't influenced my decision.

"Never say never but for now I'm done.

"Thank you to those who have supported me for me."

Hollyoaks continues weeknights on Channel 4 and E4.