One Direction today took a top secret flight from London to Manchester with several lucky fans as part of a competition which raised over £50,000 for charity.

The boyband flew in on a special British Airways flight, code BA1D, with the eight winners of the airline's Flying Start competition, which was set up to raise money for children who are living tough lives. 

The 'One Thing' stars then posed for photographs for half an hour after landing before being escorted through arrivals at the airport, whose staff were warned not to leak details about the journey to avoid hordes of fans queuing in the terminals.

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Harry Styles admitted he was glad to be back near his Holmes Chapel hometown:

“It's always nice to be back home. I think whenever I go into Manchester it makes me so close to home so it's always easier for me to go back to see my family.

“Living in London I don't get to do that so it's nice to come back to spend some time in places that I know.

“Having grown up around here I have my favourite restaurants so it's nice to go there. I haven't been back for a while so you do miss home. Your family and friends – just that stuff really. It's great to be back.”