England all-rounder Ben Stokes is returning to United Kingdom due to family reasons, Canterbury confirmed.

Stokes, 26, arrived in New Zealand late last month, sparking suggestions he could feature in the Ashes for England.

He signed for Canterbury and played six limited-overs games for the team, who confirmed Saturday Stokes was heading back to the UK.

“Ben has been great around the club, the team and the staff,” Canterbury chief executive Jeremy Curwin said in a statement.

“We can’t fault his attitude or his all-round contribution in his time with us and we are sorry that he couldn’t stay with us for longer but Ben knows that he will always find a welcome here should the opportunity arise for him to return.”

In three 50-over games, Stokes managed just 36 runs and one wicket.

But he found form in the Twenty20s, scoring 133 runs at 44.33 – including a 93 – and grabbing two wickets in three games.

“Everyone here has gone out of their way to make me feel at home. It’s a wonderful club and I couldn’t have asked for any more from my time here.”

England have already lost the Ashes to Australia – trailing 3-0 in the five-match series.

Stokes was named in England’s squad for the one-day international series against Australia, but his return to the international arena remains subject to the outcome of police and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) investigations.

He is the subject of an ECB suspension as he waits to hear whether he will be charged for his involvement in a disorder that took place in Bristol in September. Stokes was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and subsequently released under investigation without charge.