Ryan Thomas sends sweet message to his daughter on their first ever birthday apart

Ryan Thomas has taken to social media to send his 'angel' daughter a sweet message on their first ever birthday apart.

The actor, best known for playing Jason Grimshaw on Corrie, used Instagram to wish his now nine-year-old daughter Scarlett.

But the message was bittersweet as Ryan recently relocated to Australia, where he's joining the cast of Neighbours - which meant he couldn't spend his daughter's special day with her.

'Happy 9th birthday Scarlett, our first ever birthday apart makes this so much harder being the other side of the world. Love you my angel. 😘🎂🎉', the dad wrote on social media.

Fans rushed to send their birthday wishes to Ryan's daughter and to support the former Corrie star, reassuring him that he's a good dad.

One fan wrote: 'Your doing this for Scarletts future, she knows her daddy loves her, happy birthday Scarlett 🎂'

A second commented: Happy birthday to your daughter Scarlett @ryanthomas84 my daughter's 4th birthday today & her daddy is away working too!! Don't be so hard on yourself 😊 if it wasn't for you great daddy's they wouldn't get so much love😍😘 xxxx'

A third said: 'Everything you do is for Scarlett which makes it all ok! My husband misses so many of our daughters birthdays being in the Army and February seeming to be the only time they like to send him away lol.t only makes you stronger and proves how much you adore them working to provide for them, you would never choose to be away from her so just think like that, Happy birthday Scarlett.'

Ryan became a dad in 2008, when he welcomed Scarlett with his fellow Corrie co-star Tina O’Brien.

The two spilt up before their little turned one, but remained close so they could co-parent their child.

The dad-of-one is now said to be dating 26-year-old Lucy Mecklenburgh, after meeting on reality survival show Celebrity Island.