One Direction stars join family and friends at the funeral

On By Littum

PA Media Harry Styles in black glasses and suitPA Media

Harry Styles attended the service with the other band members

Family, friends and former bandmates have remembered Liam Payne at the One Direction star’s funeral, just over a month after he died aged 31.

The private service took place on Wednesday in Amersham in Buckinghamshire, northwest of London.

Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were among the mourners, along with Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy and his former partner Cheryl, with whom he shares a son.

Payne’s casket arrived at the church in a white horse-drawn hearse with floral tributes spelling out the words “son” and “father”.

Reuters Zayn Malik at the funeral, also seen wearing a smart dark jacket and sunglassesReuters

Zayn Malik joined his former One Direction bandmates at the service

PA Media Louis Tomlinson pictured outside the church in a smart dark suit and shadesPA Media

Louis Tomlinson is godfather to Payne’s son Bear

Getty Images Niall Horan in a dark suit and glassesGetty Images

Payne visited Niall Horan in Argentina before his death

Reuters Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy arrived with model and actor Damian Hurley. Both were dressed in black with sunglasses onReuters

Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy arrived with model and actor Damian Hurley

Getty Images Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman go together in gray suitsGetty Images

X Factor supremo Simon Cowell attended with partner Lauren Silverman

PA Media Nicola Roberts in dark glasses hugs an unidentified womanPA Media

Nicola Roberts is also godfather to Bear

After the service, four pallbearers carried the coffin from St Mary’s Church, followed by his parents and Cheryl.

Her Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts also attended the service, as did One Direction’s former label boss Simon Cowell, who was seen comforting the family.

Presenters James Corden, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, Scott Mills and Adrian Chiles were also among the mourners.

PA Media Payne's casket arrives at the church in a white horse-drawn hearsePA Media
PA Media Payne's hearse, decorated with red and blue flowers, bearing the words "son" and "sheep"PA Media

Floral tributes spelled out the words “son” and “father”

Other floral tributes at the funeral included one in the form of a set of 10-pin bowling pins and ball, a reference to one of Payne’s favorite pastimes.

A small crowd of locals and onlookers gathered outside the church, but fans largely stayed away, with members of the One Direction group on Reddit reminding others that “memorials are for fans, funerals are for families”.

Payne lived in the nearby village of Chalfont St Giles.

Getty Images Liam PayneGetty Images

Liam Payne formed One Direction with his X Factor bandmates in 2010

Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel room in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.

In a brief statement after his death, his family said: “We are devastated. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we will remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

An autopsy confirmed that the 31-year-old had suffered internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries.

Payne was one of the most recognizable names in pop, having shot to fame on The X Factor.

Despite only coming third in the 2010 show, One Direction went on to become the biggest British group since The Beatles.

During their five-year career, they sold 70 million records, with four UK number one singles and four number one albums.

Payne co-wrote many of their hits and also achieved solo success with tracks such as Strip That Down and Bedroom Floor.

He is survived by his parents, two sisters and Bear, his son with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.