Breaking: Harry Styles arrives at Liam’s funeral as mourners led by 1D stars girlfriend Kate Cassidy attend ‘perfect service… See More

HARRY Styles is leading mourners at his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne’s funeral.

Liam will be laid to rest just over a month after he passed away aged just 31.

Dozens of locals and fans have also gathered outside the church to pay their final respects.

The One Direction singer’s funeral is taking place in the Home Counties.

The funeral will be private and attended by just his family and closest friends.

A wake will take place following the service.

It was snowing outside the 12th century church where the funeral is set to take place.

A marquee was put up in preparation for guests’ arrival.

A floral tribute in the shape of bowling pins was also set up by the entrance.

Autumnal floral displays, made up of red and orange leaves, and white roses, were placed around the doorways of the church.

Florists were also seen unloading dozens of bunches of white flowers from a van shortly after 9am.

A source said: “Liam’s funeral is taking place in the Home Counties.

“His family have gone to great lengths to put together the perfect service and give him the send off he deserves.

“Liam may have been a global superstar but to Geoff and Karen he will always be their little boy.

It is going to be an incredibly difficult day.”

Liam’s One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, will all be in attendance.

Cheryl, 41, shares son Bear, seven, with Liam and spoke of the grief she feels for her son following his dad’s death.

She was a judge on X Factor when Wolverhampton-born Liam found fame as a teenager – and the couple later began dating in 2016.

They welcomed Bear in 2017 and went their separate ways the following year.

In a short statement following his death, Liam’s family said: “We are heartbroken.

“Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

Liam passed away on October 16 after falling from his third floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He had been in the country to renew his US visa having relocated to Florida with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy.

During his trip he attended Niall Horan’s sell out concert at the Movistar Arena.

After news broke of his son’s passing, Liam’s brave father Geoff travelled out to South America to help authorities bring his son back to the UK.

Liam shot to international fame in 2010 when he auditioned for Simon Cowell’s The X Factor as a solo artist.

He was then put into One Direction by the judges.

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

Throughout their five years together, they sold 70million records and landed four UK No1 singles and four UK No1 albums.

Speaking in 2022, Liam said he hoped to be remembered simply as being a “nice guy” rather than his musical accolades.

Liam said: “Honestly, just being a nice guy. I’d rather be known for being a nice guy than anything else.”