Liam Payne reportedly recorded a love song inspired by Naomi Campbell before his death

A source told The Mail On Sunday newspaper: "Liam and Naomi dated for three or four months and, like all things with Liam, he took it very seriously. He was an emotional guy. They didn't have a big bust-up, it was more that they saw their relationship couldn't last long-term because they were both juggling careers and traveling a lot."

Liam is said to have started work on the song soon after their break up but abandoned it until this year when he finished and recorded it.

On the opening line, Liam sang: "Still smell your perfume in my room...."

And, the insider said: "Liam joked Naomi's scent was so distinctive he could always smell it, even long after she'd left."

The three-and-a-half minute song was recorded in Los Angeles in July before Liam travelled to Sweden in August where he recorded the final version with producer and composer Rami Yacoub who wrote One Direction's debut single 'What Makes You Beautiful'.

Liam reportedly believed the track - which he also collaborated with producer Max Martin on - would be his big comeback single.

The source said: "Liam was thrilled to be back in the studio with Rami and to be working with Max. They're both legends. He was happy and laughing. He felt this would be his big comeback record."