Blackburn super fan hosting memorial event for Liam Payne

Alex Hodkinson is asking fans to gather at Blackburn Town Hall, from 12pm until around 2pm, on Thursday (October 24).

Those hoping to pay their respects to the former One Direction singer, who died after falling from a balcony on October 16, have been asked to bring flowers, cards and battery-powered tea light candles. Some candles will be provided.

Alex Hodkinson (right) and friends (Image: Alex Hodkinson )

He said: “Me and a few friends were big Liam Payne fans. It is only right that we wanted to do something special for him.  We want to commemorate him in a good way. It’s something nice we want to do for his family.

“We tried to organise a gathering on Sunday but now we are going to try again on Thursday as it was too quiet.

“I have been a fan for a good few years. His death has hit me quite hard.

“I hope he is at peace now.”

Alex, 20, has been a fan of Liam for years and said the news of his death “hit him quite hard”.

Alex, from Blackburn, said: “I might not have known him personally but as a massive One Direction fan, this breaks my heart.

Liam Payne (Image: PA )

“I can't believe what has happened but I know what I feel is valid.

"They say you can't grieve someone you don't know personally but you can. The loss of Liam has left many people heartbroken and grieving, his family, his friends, his fans, his One Direction brothers.

“Grief can hit us in different ways. You can feel lost, alone, heartbroken, depressed, sad, angry and all of this is valid,  no matter what you feel.

“He gained his wings and halo and he will be forever remembered in my heart. I send condolences to his family and friends as well as Harry, Niall,Louis and Zayn.”

Directioners, the name given to supporters of The X Factor-formed band, have organised events on social media throughout the world and in the UK in memory of Liam.

More than 100 fans gathered in central London to pay tribute on Sunday afternoon as they brought pictures of the late 31-year-old singer as well as handwritten notes, balloons, and flowers at the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park.

Liam fell from a third floor balcony balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel, Argentina. He died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, a post-mortem examination report said.

Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an “inconclusive death”.

It said five witnesses were questioned in order to reconstruct what happened at the hotel.

A joint statement from One Direction said they were “completely devastated” and will miss the singer “terribly”, adding the “memories we shared with him will be treasured forever”.