Niall Horan has paid tribute to Louis Tomlinson's "incredible" mother.

One Direction

One Direction

Johannah Deakin passed away this week following a secret battle with leukaemia and Niall Horan took to Twitter to share a message of support for Louis and to pay tribute to Johannah, 42.

He wrote: "Very sad news . Louis I love you mate and I'm / all of us are here for you all the way . You're mum was an incredible person.

"Thinking of you and your family .love from my family to yours.. (sic)."

Niall's message came after their fellow One Direction bandmate Liam Payne posted a message of support on Twitter.

He wrote: "Louis, I'm so sorry for you my brother my heart aches for you, just know I love you the same from a million miles away as i do right next to you. I'm always here for you through everything as you have been for me.

"My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this incredibly sad time I can't begin to imagine what you are all going through. Rip Johanna you are forever in my thoughts (sic)."

And former One Direction star Zayn Malik, who publicly feuded with Louis on Twitter after he quit the group, also took to the micro-blogging site to pay his condolences.

He said: "@Louis_Tomlinson love you bro! All of your family is in my prayers. proud of your strength and know your mum is too x (sic)."