1D fans 'offloading cut-price tickets after drug claims'

Searches for One Direction tickets on Viagogo have rocketed by 287% amid a surge in cut-price resale listings after a video was leaked showing the band's Zahn Malik appearing to smoke cannabis.

The ticket marketplace site said 1D listings had risen by 79% in the last 24 hours as fans and parents looked to resell their tickets to see the boyband in concert.

Tickets are being offloaded for as low as £15, more than half their face value, which Viagogo said follows a similar pattern after other pop acts made negative headlines.

Ticket listings for Miley Cyrus shows increased by 86% early this month after "a run of controversial headlines and provocative behaviour", a Viagogo spokesperson said, while sales of Justin Bieber tickets declined last year after reports emerged claiming the star had visited a Brazilian brothel.

Watch: Kids and parents split on One Direction drug claims

By Damon Green: ITV News Correspondent

I've been in Sunderland today ahead of One Direction's show at the Stadium of Light. While I was there, I asked some of their fans - many of whom are young girls - and their parents what they think of that video footage that emerged today.

What's clear from most of the younger contingent is that, as far as they're concerned, the band can do no wrong.

But there is a significant group of other people - the people who fetch these young fans from the concerts, who pay for the tickets - that aren't so forgiving.

If you ask many of the parents, they are far from impressed with what they have seen.

Read: One Direction's Zayn Malik 'filmed smoking cannabis'

One Direction fans have been quick to jump to the defence of their heroes, after a Mail Online video filmed whilst the band where on tour in Peru appears to show Zayn Malik smoking cannabis whilst travelling with Louis Tomlinson.

Read: Video 'shows One Direction singer smoking marijunana'

Other band members Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan are believed to have been travelling in different cars and were not seen in the video.

Possession of small amounts of cannabis for person use is not punishable under Peruvian law.

More: Parents worry over One Direction 'cannabis video'

Worried parents have expressed concerns after a video surfaced online apparently showing One Direction member Zayn Malik smoking cannabis.

Some discussing the issue on parenting website Netmums said they feared their children would now think of drugs as "cool".

Read: One Direction's Zayn Malik 'filmed smoking cannabis'

Parenting website Netmums has criticised "naive" One Direction star Zayn Malik after footage emerged appearing to show him smoking cannabis.

Nicola Lamond from the parenting site told ITV News: "Popstars doing drugs is nothing new – but when you market your music to pre-teen children, you take on real responsibility as a role model.

“Parents need to know their infant and junior age child’s idol won’t be caught out doing anything illegal or immoral."

"Perhaps he needs to do some work with a charity specialising in helping children overcome the harrowing effects of drug use in their family.”

Read: One Direction's Zayn Malik 'filmed smoking cannabis'