Dance teacher Kerri Dunn, from Dudley, said she worked with Liam during a stage school named Pink Productions and supported him when he went onto X Factor.
“He couldn’t dance very well but he could definitely sing, he was a really talented lad,” she said.
“He was a bit of a joker in dance rehearsals, he was a normal lad you wouldn’t think he was globally famous” she added.
City of Wolverhampton College principal Louise Fall said the college was “sorry to hear the news about former student Liam Payne”.
“[We] wish to extend our sympathies to his family and friends at this very sad time,” she added.
