Liam Payne's funeral 'to be packed with A-listers' as star's body returns to Wolverhampton

Liam Payne sadly died at the age of 31 after a tragic fall from a hotel balcony (Image: Getty)

The funeral of Liam Payne, the One Direction star, is reportedly set to take place in the coming days. It's understood that the singer's body is currently being repatriated to the UK.

Although the location of the funeral has not been confirmed, it's speculated that it may be held in his hometown of Wolverhampton. The 31 year old grew up in the Bushbury area of the city, and his family still resides nearby in Codsall, South Staffordshire.

Upon hearing the devastating news of his son's death, Payne's father Geoff immediately flew out to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's expected that Payne's body will be released to Geoff this week for him to bring his son home.

Details regarding his funeral have not been made public, and it's likely that the service will be a private event. However, rumours are circulating that a number of celebrities are planning to attend, reports Birmingham Live.

It remains unclear whether Payne's One Direction bandmates - Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson - will reunite to bid him farewell.

Liam Payne rose to fame as a member of One Direction (Image: Getty)

Cheryl Cole, Payne's ex-girlfriend from Girls Aloud with whom he shares a son named Bear, may also be in attendance.

Among other celebrity friends is Nicole Scherzinger, who is credited with helping to form One Direction on ITV's The X Factor in 2010. The Pussycat Dolls star had maintained contact with Payne and texted him on the day he died.

Music titan Simon Cowell is among the many celebrities who have paid their respects to Payne after his tragic passing, expressing that he is "truly devastated".

An insider revealed to RadarOnline.com: "Liam's funeral is going to be packed with A-listers as he was so well-loved in the showbiz community, and so many of them are so sad about his tragic death."

Tributes have poured in for Liam Payne who tragically fell from a hotel balcony (Image: Getty)

"His family want to keep his farewell low-key and respectful, as it's what Liam would have wanted as he was so down to earth. But there are going to be a series of song tributes from some very big acts as he loved singing and making music until the end."

Payne met his untimely death after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the CasaSur Palermo hotel on October 16. He had been staying in the capital with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy prior to the incident.

Cassidy had departed to return to the US, while Payne stayed behind in Argentina.