Family and stars grieve together in touching farewell to beloved Liam

LIAM Payne was mourned by his family, fans and a host of showbiz stars yesterday - as the pop star was laid to rest in a touching funeral near to the home he loved.

- Christopher Bucktin

The tragic singer, who fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina aged just 31, was buried near the village he moved to so he could be close to his most precious loved one, his beloved son Bear.

A floral tribute from the little boy, spelling out the word "Daddy" was carried inside the church in Amersham, Bucks, before the service.

Singer Cheryl - seven-year-old Bear's mum, and Liam's former girlfriend was supported by her old Girls Aloud bandmates, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.

Liam's fellow One Direction stars Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were also reunited in grief.

The bandmates, whose bond was forged during their years together in the spotlight, stood in quiet solidarity as they said goodbye to their friend.

Liam moved to Chalfont St Giles, near Amersham, in 2021. Bear and Cheryl live a couple of miles from the village which friends say became a retreat for Liam, away from his fastpaced showbiz life.

The star's dark blue coffin, adorned with white roses, arrived for the 45-minute service in a glass carriage pulled by two white horses.

Two floral tributes on top of the carriage read "Son" and "Liam".

Some mourners arrived with Batman stickers on their windscreens, in a nod to Liam's love of the superhero.