Zayn fans 'shocked and upset' at late no-show

Fans were already at the venue when they were told Malik's gig would not go ahead

Fans have spoken of their devastation after Zayn Malik's concert in Newcastle was cancelled at the last minute.

The singer was due to perform at the O2 City Hall on Tuesday, but people already waiting in the venue were suddenly told the show would not go ahead.

Concertgoers said they were "gutted" and wished the cancellation had been announced earlier, but also "proud" of Malik for performing after the death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne.

In a statement posted to his Instagram stories, Malik said he was "truly sorry" but his voice "just isn't there at all tonight".

"Everyone around me was shocked and upset, people were crying too," said Emily, from Newcastle.

But she added: "I was so proud of him. Especially after losing Liam too, it’s huge for him to be able to still perform."

Malik postponed the US leg of the tour in October following Payne's death

Adele Peterson, from Newbottle, County Durham, who was at the venue with her daughter and her friends, said: "They were all devastated it was cancelled, sitting waiting excited.

"I was talking to a lady who had come with her daughter from Iceland."

Ms Peterson said they were given "alien pictures" to wave around when a certain song came on, and the support act performed.

She thought the cancellation could have been announced sooner.

"I know some had been waiting since 12pm outside. We spent about two and a half hours in the cold."

The concert has not been rescheduled and people are being refunded.

Emily said: "Now it’s fully cancelled I’m gutted. Any other city like London or Manchester would have likely got a rescheduled date.

"I felt bad that he was unwell and unable to perform, but also annoyed that the decision to cancel was left so late, 20 minutes after he was due on stage."

Fans said they were proud of Malik for performing after the loss of Liam Payne

The Stairway to the Sky Tour is Malik's first solo tour.

The US shows were postponed after the "heartbreaking loss" of Liam Payne, 31, who died in a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Argentina in October.

In a statement posted to his Instagram stories after the Newcastle concert was cancelled, Malik said: "I'm so sorry to do this but my voice just isn't there at all tonight and without it there's no show.

"I'm truly sorry to let you down, especially at such short notice...I held onto hope until the very last moment."

The venue has been contacted for comment.