The mum of TV presenter Caroline Flack has revealed how she tried to get her daughter to open up about her "dark feelings" and is urging others to do the same.

Love Island presenter Flack, who was born in Enfield, killed herself in her north-east London flat on February 15. The 40-year-old was due to appear in court accused of assaulting her 27-year-old boyfriend, Lewis Burton.

Eight months after losing her daughter, Christine Flack has given a candid interview in which she revealed Caroline was always "frightened" the public would find out she was "vulnerable".

Christine said that she would always strive to remind her daughter of all the good things she had in her life and her career - but said that her words were "not being heard".

But Caroline would always reprimand her mother for passing judgement on people that she did not know, based on how they appeared on television, Christine said.

Christine has opened up to ITV Anglia about her daughter's struggles, in an effort to encourage others to speak out about their mental health if they are struggling.

Speaking to ITV, she said: "We tried to talk to her, and say you've got this fabulous career and you've got a nice home.

"But actually, that doesn't matter, because that isn't how they feel. I think when someone is in that place, what we say isn't being heard.

"She was always frightened that the public would find out that she was vulnerable and she had these dark feelings."

Christine added: "I used to sit with Caroline and watch television, the same as everybody else, and I would say, 'Oh, I don't like them'.

"And she'd say: 'Mum, you don't even know them.' It made me stop and think, no I don't.

"We judge people and we don't know them. We don't know what they're going through."

Christine's words have caused a surge in support for the mental health awareness drive - with £1,600 being raised for the charity Young Minds since she spoke out.