Harry Styles said the years he spent with his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne 'will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life' following the singer’s death at 31.

Payne, who rose to fame with the boy band on The X Factor, died after falling from a third floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

“I will miss him always, my lovely friend,” three-time Grammy winner Styles said in a statement on Instagram.

Payne died of multiple traumas and “internal and external haemorrhage”, a post-mortem examination report said.

Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No 16 said it was investigating the incident as an 'inconclusive death' following the report.

Payne’s family said they were 'heartbroken' following his death, adding: “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”

A joint statement from his One Direction bandmates said they were 'completely devastated' and will miss the singer 'terribly', adding the 'memories we shared with him will be treasured forever'.

In a separate statement, Styles, from Holmes Chapel, said Payne’s 'greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it'.

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“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious,” he said.

“He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving.

“The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life.”

Styles said his “heart breaks” for Payne’s family and his seven-year-old son Bear, who he shared with his former partner, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.