Liam Payne's secret friendship with Adrian Chiles as presenter delivers funeral tribute

Liam Payne was laid to rest at a private funeral in the Home Counties on Wednesday after his tragic death last month and his friend, Adrian Chiles, was among those in attendance

Former One Show host Adrian Chiles has paid a poignant tribute to his friend, Liam Payne, by wearing a West Bromwich Albion jacket to the One Direction star's funeral.

Payne tragically passed away at the age of 31 last month when he fell from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires. The pop star is being laid to rest at a private funeral which was attended by a number of close family and friends.

Payne's former One Director bandmates, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson were all in attendance as was Chiles, who sported a jacket bearing the crest of his beloved Baggies.

It previously emerged that Payne was a big West Brom fan and had bonded with Chiles over their love for the Championship outfit, with the latter's outfit clearly a tribute to his friend.

Chiles recalled how their friendship started on his BBC Radio 5 Live show after his untimely death. He explained: "I got to know him when he first did X Factor. He came up to me and said 'up the Albion' - he was a West Brom fan.

"Just as a sign as to how massive he was, I remember we snuck him into a Boxing Day game and I think his mum and dad came and sat with me. But we managed to secrete our man up in the commentary gantry so he didn't get bothered.

"Then a friend of mine texted me to ask 'why are West Brom trending number one on Twitter?' I went, well it could be because Liam Payne is here and he tweeted he was here and the whole world went mad for it."

Payne was a season ticket holder at the Hawthorns and the Championship club also paid tribute to him following his death last month.

"We're shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Baggies fan and musician, Liam Payne," the club wrote on social media. "Our thoughts are with Liam's family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time."

Payne, whose mother and father led mourners at the funeral, shares a son, Bear, with former pop star Cheryl, who also attended the ceremony on Wednesday.