'A part of our childhood has died with him': Vigil held to remember Liam Payne in Birmingham

Vigils have been held across the Midlands

A vigil has been held in Birmingham to pay tribute to Wolverhampton born pop star Liam Payne.

Fans gathered in Chamberlin Square in the city centre on Sunday (20 October) evening to pay tribute to the One Direction singer.

It's one of several vigils that took place across the UK this weekend in his memory.

Payne, who rose to fame with the boy band on The X Factor, died after falling from a third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Molly Moore and her friend meeting One Direction backstage at the X Factor in 2011 Credit: PA

Molly Moore, 28, from Coventry, planned the memorial event in Birmingham on Sunday for fans to find comfort in each other as they grieve the beloved singer.

She has been a One Direction fan for the last 14 years and has been to more than 50 of their concerts, travelling as far as Australia to see the band perform.

The group even influenced her career choices, inspiring her to pursue a job in social media.

“I’m kind of in disbelief. I keep expecting it to be fake news,” she told the PA news agency.

Ms Moore said that as of Friday afternoon, 40 people had already confirmed attendance in a Snapchat group.

Fans who gathered at the vigil said: "A part of our childhood has died with him."

Details of other vigils have been circulating on social media, with memorials reportedly planned in London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester this weekend.

Payne died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, a post-mortem examination report said.

Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death” following the report.

Payne’s family said they were “heartbroken” following his death, adding: “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

A joint statement from his One Direction bandmates said they were “completely devastated” and will miss the singer “terribly”, adding the “memories we shared with him will be treasured forever”.

One Direction fans in Buenos Aires mourned his death at a vigil outside the Argentine hotel where they lit candles and laid flowers.

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