Love for Wolverhampton's Liam Payne and strong feelings among fans as park bandstand becomes shrine on singer's birthday
It was a day to come together and remember a person who touched lives and inspired people in life and in death on what would have been his birthday.
The bandstand at West Park in Wolverhampton was a place on Friday for fans of Liam Payne to come and lay tributes to the singer on the day that would have seen him turn 32 and talk to other fans about their memories of him.
Flowers, pictures and written tributes were being laid on and tied to the bandstand in the centre of the park, joining other tributes which have continued to be left to Liam following his death after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in Argentina in October last year.
It was also a place for fans to come together and support each other as the death of Liam Payne continues to be felt nearly a year later, with plenty of tears and hugs, but also smiles and laughter as they shared memories of the One Direction star and what he meant to them.
Among those sitting at the bandstand and remembering Liam was Hayley Smith from Telford, with the 25-year-old saying that it was a bittersweet occasion, but she had wanted to be there to make sure that no one else was alone.
She said: "It's the first time that we've celebrated Liam's birthday without him being here, so I wanted to be here and I came here specifically to make sure that no one showed up and felt they didn't have anyone to talk to, because I've done it and it's not a nice feeling.
