Ricky Hatton and Claire Sweeney take HUGE next step in their relationship as they share a slew of loved up snaps

They made their red carpet debut arsenic a mates past month.

And Ricky Hatton and Claire Sweeney took nan adjacent large measurement successful their narration this week erstwhile they jetted disconnected to sun soaked Tenerife for their first vacation arsenic a couple.

The erstwhile boxer, 45, took to Instagram pinch a slew of loved up snaps pinch nan actress, 53, arsenic they enjoyed a romanticist repast earlier watching his beloved Manchester City's 5-0 triumph complete Wolves pinch pals.

Claire looked gorgeous successful a plunging summertime dress which perfectly showcased her recently sun-kissed skin, while Ricky trim a suave fig successful black.

He captioned nan post:  'Great evening & nutrient past nighttime pinch our friends @elmiradortenerife Thank you truthful overmuch for looking aft maine arsenic you ever do. Fantastic night. Ricky & Claire X'

It comes after Claire and Ricky made their first nationalist quality together at nan Co-op Live charismatic invited ceremony.

The showbiz brace looked awesome together as joined different celebs to return a look astatine Manchester's newest arena space.

They confirmed their narration pinch nan outing, but conscionable days before, Ricky took to Instagram pinch a loved-up day connection for Claire.

Claire has told friends she feels for illustration 'she has won nan lottery' arsenic her romance pinch Ricky goes from spot to strength. 

A friend of Claire's told MailOnline: 'Claire and Ricky person go really close. 

'She wasn't looking for a relationship but past Ricky came on and it conscionable felt correct and earthy and she's really happy.

'She signed up for a reality TV show and met a awesome feline truthful it feels a spot for illustration winning nan lottery and she's really counting her blessings arsenic it each came from obscurity and often that's nan champion way.

'She's now really looking guardant to introducing Ricky to her family and friends soon and they are really looking guardant to meeting nan feline who has put a grin connected Claire's face.'

Meanwhile a root adjacent to Ricky joked: 'At first Ricky thought signing up for DOI had been a large correction because he wasn't nan top crystal skater! But arsenic soon arsenic he was introduced to Claire he realised agreeing to nan show was a awesome move.

'They're having a batch of nosy and enjoying themselves.'

The brace met connected nan ITV show and started making love aft Ricky messaged her and invited her to a boxing event.

And Corrie star Claire was near floored by nan boxing legend's knockout charm.

Friends opportunity nan retired World Champion is 'one of nan funniest people' she's ever met - and that nan brace person grown 'incredibly close' and are plotting a Summer getaway.

A root said: 'Anyone who knows Ricky knows really funny and entertaining he tin be. But Claire had nary thought until she met him connected Dancing connected Ice, and that's what really attracted her to him initially. He perpetually had her successful hysterics and they grew person and person aft that.

'Things person go superior rather quickly and they are conscionable really enjoying each other's institution and seeing really things create from here.

'They are besides discussing perchance going connected vacation together to Tenerife nan Summer which will spot their narration spell to nan adjacent level.'

Pals besides deliberation Claire could beryllium to beryllium a bully power connected Ricky who has suffered from individual issues successful nan past.

Our root added: 'Ricky's had a spot of a rollercoaster manner successful nan past. Since retiring location has often been a batch of drinking and partying which he combines pinch his boxing training and his coaching of different fighters.

'But Ricky is keen to tie a statement nether a batch of that. He still likes a portion and a laugh, but he's backmost connected way and open-minded to settling down. That's why his friends and family are delighted personification for illustration Claire has travel along. They deliberation it could beryllium conscionable nan correct infinitesimal for them some and everyone conscionable wants them to beryllium happy.'

Details of nan pair's narration emerged past week, pinch sources revealing that they had developed 'electric chemistry' during nan show.