Liam Payne's ex-girlfriend Danielle Peazer comforted at star's funeral after revealing 'unique' bond

Though Liam Payne and ex-girlfriend Danielle Peazer hadn't dated for 11 years, they continued to stay in touch - and he reached out to her two weeks before his death

Liam Payne's ex-girlfriend Danielle Peazer was spotted being comforted as she attended the late star's private funeral today.

The 36-year-old, who dated Liam for three years between 2010 and 2013 after meeting him when she worked as a backing dancer on The X Factor, was pictured outside the service in Liam's hometown of Wolverhampton earlier this afternoon.

Wearing a black dress and matching heels and overcoat, Danielle hid her eyes behind dark sunglasses as she clutched new partner Sonny Jay's hand as they walked into the church together. Danielle and radio presenter Sonny – who was in boy band Loveable Rogues who got to the 2012 final of Britain's Got Talent - share a daughter Mia who was born in May.

In a touching tribute following Liam's tragic death last month, when the 31-year-old fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Danielle described the special bond she continued to share with Liam years after they ended their relationship.

Taking to Instagram at the time to post pictures of her and Liam together, Danielle wrote: "LJP, This still doesn't feel real. Despite being aware of your struggles over the years, I hoped and prayed that this day would never come. But now we're all facing the reality of living a life without your presence.

"It's common at times like this for people to say 'I hope he knew how much I cared about him' but I know that you knew how I felt, it was one thing we were really good at - being brutally honest with our feelings for each other, whether the other wanted to hear it or not."

She continued: "At times you were my favourite person in the whole world, but you could also wind me up so much and I probably annoyed the hell out of you sometimes too. It was something we learned to accept of each other over 14 years, we could disagree on so many things yet still look out for each other in times of need and laugh about our disagreements and petty behaviour 10 mins later.

"Our relationship may have ended back in 2013, but that seemed to be just the start of our story. The things we went through and experienced from then all the way until last year could be described as unique to some and misunderstood by others, but I think deep down we always knew we'd have some sort of connection forever, no matter where our individual lives took us.

"It took a little longer for you to figure out the person you wanted to be in order to be your happiest, but whilst most of us have our teens and twenties to learn about ourselves, you spent those years giving more to the world than you ever needed to. I wish you knew that you were always more than enough for this world without having to search for a role to play just to please others."

Concluding the heartbreaking post, she added: "Thank you for teaching me about the importance of setting boundaries, and that I should always protect my heart. Receiving a message from you a couple of weeks ago [before his death] expressing your happiness for the love I found with Sonny and Mia is something I'll cherish forever. I'm sorry your story didn't end differently, and I'm sorry you didn't ever get to share more of your magic with the world. Rest easy my friend. Love Danielle."

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