Liam Payne’s ex Cheryl will attend his funeral today – with all four of his former One Direction bandmates expected to join them.

Payne died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Nicola Robert’s, a member of Girl’s Aloud pop group, was among the first mourners to arrive. She was greeted with a kiss by Simon Jones, the former PR for One Direction who now acts for Cheryl Tweedy.

Kimberley Walsh, 43, and Damian Hurley, 22, were also among those seen walking through the churchyard towards the main entrance.

Harry Styles, 30, Niall Horan, 31, Zayn Malik, 31, and Louis Tomlinson, 32, are all expected to be present in what is believed to be their first public meeting as a group since their last concert in 2015.

A church source said a choir and musicians will perform at the service, which is set to begin at 1pm. One of the floral displays shows bowling pins and a ball – a nod to his love of bowling, which Ms Cassidy said he did four times a week.

The funeral’s location has been a closely guarded secret, and local residents only realised it was taking place when ‘no parking’ signs were erected around the church.

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Two traffic enforcement officers patrolled the area handing out tickets to any drivers ignoring the signs.

Payne travelled to Argentina in September where he watched former bandmate Niall Horan perform and also saw his close friend Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores. He had extended his stay to renew his visa to live in the US when the tragedy occurred.

The entrance of the church which is hosting the service has been decorated with candle lanterns and white roses that have been arranged in surrounding shrubbery.

In a joint statement released following Payne’s death, Tomlinson, Malik, Horan, and Styles said they were ‘completely devastated.’

‘In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,’ they said.

‘But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.

‘The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us.

‘We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam – Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry.’

Tomlinson, Styles and Malik all later released separate tributes.

Styles wrote on Instagram that he was ‘truly devastated’ and will ‘miss him always’.

‘His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.

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

‘He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.

‘My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.’

Tomlinson said in a separate emotional tribute that he was ‘really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye’.

He posted a picture on his Instagram page of the two of them on stage with Payne lovingly putting his arm over Tomlinson’s shoulder.

Tomlinson said he would be an uncle to Payne’s son Bear if he ‘ever needs me’ and ‘tell him stories of how amazing his dad was’.

‘I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,’ he wrote.

‘I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.

‘I wish I got a chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.

‘Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X’.

Malik said he had been talking out loud to Payne ‘hoping you can hear me’.

In his own heart wrenching tribute, he said he had ‘lost a brother when you left us’.

‘And I can’t explain you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly,’ he wrote.

‘I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.’