Jesy Nelson has revealed that she was hospitalised with anxiety before she took the decision to quit Little Mix.

The 30-year-old left the girl group last December citing concerns over her mental health and now she has opened up on the struggles she was going through at the time.

"I was having these panic attacks out of nowhere," she told The Guardian.

"I couldn't understand what was happening. It got to the point where I thought, 'this is too much – I need to come out of this now'."

Through tears, she continued: "I did the music video [for 'Sweet Melody'] and had a panic attack, and it was pretty mental that day. God, I haven't really spoken about it and I'm getting upset. Sorry.

"After the video I just got back in a really dark place and ended up back in hospital. That was when my mum said, 'No more.'

"I had already decided [to leave]. Then the girls spoke to Mum and said, 'We think Jesy should come out of this now. She has to look after herself.'"

Nelson's comments come as she gears up to launch her solo career, with her debut single due out early next month.