Niall Horan delaying solo album to write for other artists

Niall Horan will not be releasing a solo album any time soon as he wants to focus on writing songs for other artists.

The One Direction star, 22, has been working on new music with top British songwriter Wayne Hector.

However Wayne, who has worked with stars including Nicki Minaj, Jess Glynne and One Direction themselves, says Niall's current plan is to offer songs he's penned to other musicians.

"We are writing together but he wants to do it for other people not himself at the moment," he explains to Britain's Daily Star newspaper. "We have no idea where it will end up."

Like his fellow One Direction members Niall has used the boyband's hiatus, which began at the start of the year (16), to engage his passions outside music.

In particular the Irishman has indulged his love of golf by setting up a charity golf tournament with his friend, the English professional golfer Justin Rose. The Horan & Rose Event, which will raise money for Cancer Research U.K. Kids and Teens, will take place on 30 May (16).

He has also set up a sporting management agency, and is playing in another golf event with his close friend, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, this weekend (21-22May16).

Niall's bandmate Harry Styles has also branched out from his musical beginnings, having taken his first major movie role in Christopher Nolan's forthcoming World War II epic Dunkirk.

So far the only One Direction member to release any solo material is Zayn Malik, who quit the band in March last year (15).

His debut album Mind of Mine proved a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic upon its March (16) release, topping both the U.K. chart and the Billboard 200 rundown.