One Direction slam split rumours

Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles of the musical group One Direction. Photo / AP

British boyband One Direction insist they will not be splitting up despite the departure of band member Zayn Malik.

The chart toppers, who have sold more than 50 million records worldwide and have a huge teenage following, hit back at rumours concerning their future.

Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson played their first British concert as a foursome on Friday night in Cardiff.

Payne responded to rumours of a split before they performed on Saturday at London's Wembley Stadium.

"We don't know where that came from because we've got loads of stuff going on," he said.

"We have just started the process for recording the new album, we've got a whole new tour going on, there are some really good songs so I don't think we are going anywhere for a while."

One Direction announced in March that Malik was quitting, but that the band would continue as a foursome.

"I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight," Malik said.

- AFP