Zayn Malik pays a heartfelt tribute to his late grandmother

has paid tribute to his beloved grandmother after she passed away.

Taking to Twitter today (Wednesday 6), the former One Direction star tweeted:

‘Thank you for your support and love .. My grandma was a beautiful person and will be missed dearly x.’

The news was initially announced earlier on in the day by his younger sister, Waliyha Azad. She shared a sweet photograph of their grandmother on her Instagram page with the caption: '‘R.I.P to my grandma I love you more than anything in the world my angel.

‘It was so hard to see you struggle the way you have been but I know your in a better place now with my granddad he'll be so happy to see you after so many years’ [sic]

Yesterday (January 5) Celebrity Big Brother contestant, Stephanie Davis, said she would not spill the beans on her relationship with Zayn Malik.

The uploaded photo depicts Malik’s grandmother with his mother, Trisha.

Watch news coverage on Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid from this year below: