Luisa Bradshaw-White has announced that she is leaving EastEnders after seven years playing Tina Carter.

The 45-year-old will bow out of the soap when her contract comes to an end of the year, she announced in a post on Instagram.

Tina is currently involved in a storyline that is seeing her brother Mick (Danny Dyer) come to terms with the fact that he was sexually abused as a child, although it is unclear at this stage whether Tina's exit from the Square will be related to that plot.

"I just wanted everyone to know from me that I am leaving EastEnders at the end of the year!" Bradshaw-White said. "After seven awesome years, it's time for me to move on and get excited about other projects!

"I have had the most amazing time on EastEnders and will miss the cast and crew so much. But I am also completely excited about the new adventures that await me.

"It's been an amazing ride. Being part of the 30th anniversary, the live eps, the Carter family, working every day with my best friends. Danny Dyer, Kellie Bright (Linda) and Linda Henry (Shirley), I love you more than anything in the world.

"Thank you to all the amazing fans for your support and love of Tina. I have appreciated it so much. Keep watching - there's lots of drama to come!"

A spokesperson for the soap said: "We can confirm that Luisa will be leaving EastEnders. Luisa has been a fantastic addition to the cast and we wish her all the best for the future."

Executive producer Jon Sen added: "Luisa has been a wonderful member of the EastEnders company for the last seven years. We will all miss her dearly but wish her well in her future endeavours."

Bradshaw-White is the latest in a long string of main characters to exit the soap this year, with other departures in 2020 and early 2021 including Jake Wood (Max), Davood Ghadami (Kush), Amar Adatia, (Jags), Jessica Plummer (Chantelle), Jasmine Armfield (Bex), Danny Walters (Keanu), Bleu Landau (Denny), Lucy Benjamin (Lisa), Tilly Keeper (Louise) and June Brown (Dot).