Niall Horan has paid tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne following the singer's sudden death.

Payne died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16 aged 31.

Police in Buenos Aires shared that they were responding to reports “of an aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol”.

Fans gathered around the hotel shortly after Payne's death was confirmed, many lighting candles and leaving flowers at the side of the road in an impromptu vigil.

Now, Horan who was in the boyband One Direction with Payne has taken to Instagram to share a touching tribute to the late singer.

Niall Horan shares tribute to Liam Payne

Writing on Instagram, Horan said: "I'm absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam.

"It just doesn't feel real.

"Liam had an energy for life and passion for work that was infectious.

"He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.

"All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.

"We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever.

"The bond and friendship we had doesn't happen often in a lifetime.

"I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently.

"I sadly didn't know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever.

"It's heartbreaking.

"My love and condolence go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear.

"Thank you for everything, Payno.

"Love you brother. Nialler."

Payne formed the boy band One Direction in 2010, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles, after they individually auditioned for The X Factor.

The late singer first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 when he was 14, singing Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon, with judge Simon Cowell telling him to return to the ITV talent show two years later.

In 2010, he impressed the judges with a rendition of Michael Buble’s Cry Me A River before being put with four other solo hopefuls at the boot camp stage of the competition – the group which later became One Direction.

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The two were in One Direction from 2010 until 2016 when the group went on a break and members began their own solo careers.

Earlier this month, Payne attended bandmate Horan’s Argentinian concert alongside his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy.

Payne shares a son Bear, born in 2017, with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.