The couple in happier times

The 17-year-old's relationship with DJ Steven Johnson has been the cause of conflict with her mother, Maria, in the past, but it was to her she turned when she found out he had been seeing someone else.

After throwing the 19-year-old and his belongings out of her luxury flat in Cardiff Bay, she went to stay with her parents at the guest house they run in the city.

Ms Church's management team confirmed on Sunday that the relationship with Mr Johnson was over.

Her mother is reported to have said : "Charlotte is very upset and it hurts me that he has hurt her like this.

"I never liked him but she loved him so much."

Mr Johnson, from the Grangetown area of Cardiff, has recently signed with a modelling agency.

Maria Church is comforting her daughter

Asked about the break-up, he said : "I'm with someone new now. She's a model. You'll find out who she is soon enough."

Throughout the romance, Ms Church has made no secret of her love and, in a recent interview , Mr Johnson said he planned to marry Church in a few years.

Earlier this year, however, Ms Church - who is thought to have amassed a �16m fortune - said she would make her boyfriend sign a prenuptial agreement if they decided to marry.

"I'm not engaged, so there's no prenuptial agreement, but there probably will be as soon as I decide to get married."

She admitted that her family did not think Mr Johnson was "the ideal person" for her.

"My mum doesn't like Steven," she said.

"I'm sure there are thousands of mothers across the country who don't like their daughter's boyfriends, but it just so happens everyone is interested in mine.

"In a perfect world, my mum and Steven would get on. But if it doesn't happen the situation is liveable".

"My boyfriend's lovely and I love him to bits."