LONDON: A member of British-Irish pop phenomenon One Direction on Monday denied press reports the band was to split, saying instead the group is to take a “break” in 2016.

“Ok so lots of rumors going round. We are not splitting up, but we will be taking a well earned break at some point next year,” Niall Horan, 21, a member of the four-piece boyband wrote to his 23 million followers on Twitter.

“Don’t worry though, we still have lots we want to achieve!“

The comments followed a report in British newspaper The Sun citing a “1D source” that the band was to separate for at least a year, which left the band’s enormous global teenage following devastated.

“The guys have been together for five years, which is an incredible run for any boyband,” said The Sun’s source.

“They fully deserve to have at least a year to work on their own projects. There is absolutely no bad blood between them and they are all 100 percent behind the decision.

“It is definitely not a split and they fully intend to get back together at some time in the future.”

A spokesman for the band had declined to comment on the report.