United in grief

1D 'brothers' & mentor Cowell in 'utter shock'

- LAURA ARMSTRONG

SIMON Cowell has been in touch directly with Liam Payne's family after the "utter shock" of the One Direction star's tragic death.

Sources say the music mogul, 65, who mentored the boyband on The X Factor and signed them to his label Syco, contacted Liam's parents Karen and Geoff himself.

The family are also being comforted by their son's former bandmates, Niall Horan, 30, Louis Tomlinson, 32, Zayn Malik, 31, and Harry Styles, 30, who are mourning the loss of their "brother".

One source said: "Simon and the One Direction boys are all in touch with Liam's family.

"Niall, Louis, Zayn and Harry all saw him as their own family and so they are doing everything they can to support his relatives.

"The four of them have been left absolutely reeling by this tragic loss. And Simon was obviously still in utter shock when he reached out after the news.

"He made it clear how highly he thought of Liam, and made it clear he would do anything he could to help them in the future."

RESPECT

Following Liam's tragic death at a hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, Simon paid tribute yesterday on social media.

He wrote: "Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken.