Liam Payne’s father has visited the hotel in Argentina where his son died, as he read tributes left for the One Direction star.

Geoff Payne was seen reading messages and looking at flowers placed outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the capital Buenos Aires.

He was watched on by a crowd of mourners.

Sky correspondent Martha Kelner in Buenos Aires said: “Geoff paused occasionally to put on his glasses to read the notes written in English and picked up the pictures to kiss them.

“He also thanked fans for being there.”

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The singer died aged 31 on Wednesday after falling from a balcony on the third floor of the hotel.

Payne’s father arrived in Argentina on Friday to arrange for the return of his son’s body to the UK.

Earlier, he was seen leaving a different hotel in the city, accompanied by British consular officials and security staff.

Argentinian officials said Mr Payne visited the city’s morgue to identify his son before meeting with the local prosecutor’s office to organise the repatriation of his body.

Local media reported he was expected to pick up some of his son’s belongings during the visit.

On Thursday, Payne’s relatives said in a joint statement they were “heartbroken” by his death.

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

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

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Payne expressed gratitude to his parents during several interviews with the media in recent years.

His father, a mechanic, and his mother, a nurse, both made cameos in One Direction: This Is Us, a 2013 concert documentary about the band.

“When I see him on stage I absolutely burst with pride, but we do miss him so much,” Payne’s mother, Karen, said at one point in the film.

Tributes have poured in for Payne following his death, including from his One Direction bandmates who issued a joint statement and their own personal messages.

Simon Cowell – who mentored the band on the X Factor and later signed them to his label – paid tribute to Payne on Friday evening, saying he was “truly devastated” and felt “empty”.

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, who was in a relationship with Payne between 2016 and 2018, and had a son with him in 2017, also spoke of her heartbreak on Friday and hit out at “abhorrent” reports surrounding his death.

Simon Cowell has said he is “truly devastated” and “heartbroken” over the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne.

The X Factor judge – who mentored the band on the show and later signed them to his label – posted a tribute on Instagram to the 31-year-old singer.

Payne died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” Cowell wrote.

“Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.

“This is so difficult to put into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together.”

Cowell continued: “I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused.

“And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”

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Cowell also referenced the time he initially rejected Payne for being too young when he first appeared on the X Factor in 2008.

“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again,” he wrote.

Remembering when Payne returned to the talent show’s audition process two years later, Cowell added: “A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam.

“And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.”

He also revealed that the pair had met last year “just to sit and talk”.

“We reminisced about all the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I met all those years ago,” he wrote.

Cowell also said he had met Payne’s son Bear, adding that the boy had the singer’s “smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have”.

“He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it,” Cowell added.

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The music mogul finished his tribute with the words: “I always thought the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were.

“And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.

“Rest in peace my friend.”

He added: “I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family. Simon X”.

It comes after Payne’s One Direction bandmates, including Niall Horan and Harry Styles, issued their own tributes to the singer.

Cowell will reportedly miss filming for the ITV show Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) when production resumes on Saturday.

Filming for the programme was halted earlier this week in the wake of Payne’s death.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli is said to be stepping in to replace Cowell for an unspecified amount of time.

A source told The Sun: “This news has hit Simon incredibly hard – he is utterly shocked and devastated…

“He didn’t feel it was right to continue with filming BGT, and when it resumes on Saturday, does not feel he’ll be in the right headspace to continue.”

Niall Horan has paid tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, saying he is “absolutely devastated” by his death.

The 31-year-old pop star suffered “extremely serious injuries” after landing in the courtyard of the CasaSur Hotel in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, police said.

Payne had flown to Buenos Aires to attend the Horan’s concert at the Movistar Arena earlier this month.

Horan shared a photo of the pair as teenagers at the start of their One Direction journey, with Payne on his back and both smiling for the camera.

In a statement shared on Instagram, he wrote: “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.”

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He described his former bandmate as having an “energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious”.

“He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure,” he said.

He went on: “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.”

He said news of the death of his “amazing friend” just didn’t “feel real”.

He signed off his post, “Thank you for everything Payno, Love you brother, Nialler”.

Former One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan put out a statement saying they were “completely devastated” following Payne’s death.

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Fans flocked to the hotel after news of Payne’s death broke, setting up vigils, singing and lighting candles.

In the UK, fans are planning a memorial in Hyde Park in London on Sunday afternoon.

In the hours before his death, photos shared from the singer’s Snapchat account showed him with his partner Kate Cassidy.

The band was formed on The X Factor in 2010, with Payne featuring alongside Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles. They were mentored by Simon Cowell who had also created the show.

The group finished third before signing with Cowell’s “Syco” record label and going on to become one of the best-selling boybands of all time.

Payne leaves behind his 7-year-old son Bear who he shared with Girls Aloud star Cheryl, his parents Karen and Geoff, and elder sisters Nicola and Ruth.