Young people under 18 should be prevented from joining major pop bands to protect their mental health, a leading songwriter has said.

Guy Chambers, a good friend of Take That star Robbie Williams, made the comments days after the death of Liam Payne aged 31, who was just 16 when he became part of One Direction in 2010.

Liam, who shares a seven-year-old son with his ex partner Cheryl Tweedy, plunged to his death from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.

The singer had previously spoken about his mental health struggles after reaching stardom at such a young age, with many claiming more support should have been given to the boy group in their youth.

Speaking this weekend, Mr Chambers called for the music industry to stop working with talent under the age of 18.

‘I do think putting a 16-year-old in an adult world like that is potentially really damaging. Robbie experienced that, certainly,’ he told the Observer.

Leading songwriter Guy Chambers (right) with Take That star Robbie Williams (left)  in 1999

A social media selfie video shows Liam Payne speaking in Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, shortly before his death

Liam (centre) was just 16 when he became one fifth of One Direction in 2010

Guy Chambers (pictured) called for the music industry to stop working with talent under the age of 18

He added: ‘I have four children, so I think about this a lot. I know in Robbie’s case, with Take That, there wasn’t any proper protection set up to look after what were teenage boys.

‘That was a long time ago, but I don’t see much sign of change. There is not much more real care taken, that I have observed, from people involved in the big television talent shows.’

It comes after news that Liam made a shocking admission just minutes before he plunged to his death, MailOnline revealed earlier this week.

A young woman staying in the same hotel said she was told by the former One Direction singer just minutes before he died: ‘I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I’m so f***ed up’.

In her compelling account, Rebecca, one of the last people to speak to the popstar at the Casa Sur Hotel on Wednesday, claimed that Liam showed ‘disturbing and weird behaviour’ as he smashed his laptop on the floor.

Fans of Liam today gathered across the world from London to Paris, New York and Stockholm, to pay tribute to the One Direction star.

Heartbroken fans came together to pay their respects at a vigil at the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens.

The event was held ‘in memory of Liam’ and to ‘honour his shining spirit and unforgettable impact’.

Bereaved attendees brought flowers, letters, drawings as well as One Direction memorabilia to lay under a picture of the star. Some came in groups and hugged and held each other as they mourned his loss.

In one touching moment, fans sang One Direction’s iconic song ‘What Makes You Beautiful — the band’s lead single from their debut album, ‘Up All Night’.