Liam Payne splits from girlfriend?

Rumour has it that Liam Payne has split from girlfriend Sophia Smith

London: One Direction star Liam Payne has reportedly split from his girlfriend Sophia Smith.

The One Direction singer, 22, and his long-term love have called time on their romance with a source close to Payne revealing he is "incredibly sad" about the break-up.

"Liam and Sophia have split. Liam is incredibly sad, but is going to keep busy. He really hopes that everybody will respect both his and Sophia's privacy and stop speculating.

"Liam and Sophia have had fights before and got back together, so hopefully this is one of those times. They are a great couple but sometimes they find their lifestyles - with him flying around the world as a pop star and her at university in Birmingham - don't always match up," a source said.

News of the split comes just days after One Direction were forced to cancel a concert for the first time in their five-year career.