MARLBOROUGH High Street experienced a touch of fan frenzy yesterday as 500 people queued to see former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.

The singer/songwriter spent two and a half hours at the Movida Café next to the Sound Knowledge record shop signing copies of his new album Walls.

More than 500 people are estimated to have queued in the cold for several hours just to meet Louis and be photographed with their music hero.

Tui Jackson, from Wanborough, who was waiting in line, said: "I love One Direction.

"I'm quite excited, I'm hoping to get a photo and a hug.

"We've been here since 4.30pm and we're grateful that we got here when we did because it's a long queue.

"I've been to a One Direction concert before but this is the first time I've ever met one of them."

Roger Mortimer, the owner of Sound Knowledge, said the album signing organised by the Sony record company had been a “fantastic” success.

He added: “We had hundreds of fans attend. Some of them had travelled from as far away as Belgium, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Columbia and Australia.

“The fans just wanted to meet him and had come from all directions. People had travelled quite long distances so a few hours waiting was the least of their troubles.

“They just wanted to meet him and breathe the same air for a few minutes while he signed the albums and posed for photographs.

“There were a few tears but he was absolutely charming with the fans and with the staff and stayed for two and a half hours up to 8pm.”

The event at Hughenden Yard in the High Street had started half an hour early because of fans queuing around the block to see the 28-year-old former boy band star.

Louis Tomlinson joined One Direction in 2010 after appearing on the X Factor TV programme.

The five-man band made five albums, embarked on four world tours and won 200 awards before splitting in 2016 at the peak of their fame.

Since leaving One Direction, Mr Tomlinson has embarked on a solo career and has just released his debut solo album.