Relations between members of One Direction are strained, a report has claimed.

The British boyband, who formed on 'The X Factor' in 2011, have been following an intense schedule in recent months and while sources close to the band continue to insist everything is fine between the five members - Harry Styles, 20, Zayn Malik, 21, Louis Tomlinson, 22, Liam Payne, 21, and Niall Horan, 21 - Mirror Online has claimed trouble is starting to brew.

After they were named Best International Artist at Australia's ARIA awards earlier this week, Harry walked off alone to his own vehicle, while Niall Horan and Liam Payne stuck together.

Louis and Zayn, meanwhile, went off together to have a calming smoke, where they were seen chatting to minders about their respective tattoos.

Although an eyewitness to the incident suggested that the exchange became heated, sources at the Mirror insist that wasn't the case and that the conversation was perfectly polite.

Last week, the band split from their long-standing tour manager Paul Higgins, after he allegedly fell out with Zayn.

Paul was one of the most influential members of the band's inner circle and had been with them almost since the start of their careers.