Liam Payne: Sheffield council says tributes to One Direction star can stay until after his funeral next month

The Sheffield Covid Memorial, in Barker’s Pool, is even more decorated today following a vigil to the pop star held on October 20.

Fans gathered in Sheffield City Centre yesterday to sing One Direction hits and release balloons in memory of Liam Payne, who died in Buenos Ares on October 16.

Letters, poems and photos have been taped up and down the memorial, and dozens of floral tributes have been laid at its base.

Following the gathering yesterday, a resident contacted The Star saying the rumour among fans was that the tributes would be taken down by the local authority.

However, Sheffield City Council has now confirmed this is not the case.

Councillor Joe Otten, chair of the Waste and Street Scene Committee, said: “Members of the public have laid memorials and tributes at the city’s Covid Memorial for Liam Payne and they will remain in place until after his funeral. We expect that more people will want to continue to pay their respects to him.”

No date has been set for the pop star’s funeral, but it is expected to take place in November.

The memorial was organised by Jessica Leeming, aged 26, from Sheffield, who put the vigil together with two people she met online after seeing similar events held in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

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Two 17-year-old fans - who would have been aged around three when Liam and the boys of One Direction rose to stardom - were sat by memorial when The Star visited on Monday morning.

One of them said: “We grew up with them - we used to have One Direction parties. He was our childhood.

“My mum texted me last week as I was going to bed saying ‘Liam Payne’s died,’ I just couldn’t believe it.

“I’m heartbroken. I had a cry last night even.”

One letter from a fan reads: “Liam, I hope you know the impact your kind soul and brilliant 

“Thank you for all of the joy you gave this world. I’m sorry it failed you. We love you 4eva, Grace B.”