One Direction star Liam Payne has declared his bandmate Louis Tomlinson is "excited" about becoming a father and is planning to take his responsibilities "seriously".

Fans of the boyband were left reeling last month (Jul15) following the bombshell news that Tomlinson is expecting a baby with Los Angeles-based stylist Briana Jungwirth after a brief fling.

Tomlinson has yet to open up about his new role as dad-to-be, but his bandmate Payne insists the singer is coping well.

He tells U.K. radio station Magic FM, "Well obviously I was a bit shocked but he's taken super well to it. And he's very excited with what's going on with him at the moment and I feel that stuff like that happens sometimes... He's taking it very seriously."

Payne adds of Jungwirth , "She's really nice, she's a lovely girl."