News you had left us came up on my phone.I went cold

Nicola on shocking way she heard of tragic star's death

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

LIAM Payne's devastated sister has told how she found out he had died from an alert on her phone.

And Nicola Payne paid an emotional tribute to the tragic former One Direction star who plunged to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

Nicola spoke as Liam's grieving girlfriend Kate Cassidy was seen in public for the first time since he died.

It also emerged the singer's death is likely to be the subject of an inquest in the UK after his body is repatriated, prolonging the agony for his family.

Liam's eldest sister Nicola, 36, posted a series of family pictures, including one of Liam with her daughter, Ffion.

She wrote: "When I saw the news pop up on my phone that you had left us, I went cold, I wanted so much for this to be untrue. I have spent days hoping that it was a mistake and somebody has got it wrong.

"I have posted about Liam and his achievements over the years with a proud sister alert, and that has stood then, now and always." In her tribute to Liam, she added: "You were truly too good for this earth.

You are an angel who just lived for making people smile.

"You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew.

"We don't have many pictures together as we never did that as a family. We never wanted you to feel like you were in a room of fans but we were your biggest fans, always and for ever.

"Your talent alone puts you miles ahead, but also you being you.