Emmerdale’s Gabby left in tears during heart-to-heart about her dad Ashley Thomas’ declining condition

EMMERDALE's Gabby was left in tears this evening after it became clear that her dad Ashley Thomas' condition has rapidly deteriorated.

The young teen tried to help out with her dementia-suffering dad's home care on tonight's episode while also looking after baby Dotty.

This was after Ashley's carer Will called in sick - but things quickly became complicated.

Laurel returned home to find, to her horror, that there’s no one there. She frantically looked around the house but there was no one in sight.

And when Ashley is brought back home by Pollard and there’s no Dotty in the pushchair, the worried mum became even more distraught.

However Gabby was with her baby sister and when they came home she was told off by Laurel for making her worry.

At the end of episode Gabby is sitting in a chair after saying that she couldn't sleep.

Laurel sits down with her apologises for her reaction before the pair have a heart-to-heart.

Gabby said: "He's getting worse, isn't he?"

But Ashley's wife tried to remain positive and said that "he has some good days".

His daughter then admits that Ashley hit his carer and said that she didn't tell her before because she got scared because that might mean that her dad would have to go away.

Laurel later gave her a hug as she heartbreakingly cried and said: "I don't want him to go away - I want him to stay with us."

Over the last few months viewers have watched Ashley become progressively worse, one memorable moment being when he forgot who his wife Laurel was.

But Emmerdale bosses recently revealed that the soap would have a "joyful” ending to Ashley’s two year battle with dementia.

Producer Iain McLeod has teased that he was working with writers to come up with an ending that could “warm the cockles” after the emotional rollercoaster fans have been on so far.

Got a story? Email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220