The rampage happened when the zealous Free Radio listeners misunderstood clues being given during a competition to win One Direction tour tickets.
'Fans searched through bushes, plant pots and under wheelie bins in their hunt for competition prizes'
The 100-strong supporters stormed to Liam’s family home, eagerly searching through bushes, plant pots and under wheelie bins in their hunt for competition prizes.
Unfortunately for the fans,- and the Payne family , the tickets were actually hidden in Wolverhampton, taped to the back of a road sign. Two tickets were found later for tonight’s sell-out gig in Birmingham.
Following the near-stampede, Liam’s dad relieved Geoff Payne said:
“I’m much better now that the competition is over.
“I’ve had people loitering around the house for days on end now. I’m glad someone won it.
He jokingly added:
“There have been people hiding round corners looking for them.”
The radio station had broadcast six clues to the whereabouts of the concert tickets, including the hints including ‘they are close to somewhere beautiful’ and ‘could have been an ancient burial site’
'His dad rang the show to say he was relieved the competition was over as fans were mooching around the lawn. They saw the funny side of it, thankfully'
The bewildered fans headed to Payne’s family home in vain.
Radio presenters Nigel Freshman and Cat James from the West Midlands station apologised profusely to semi-traumatised father Geoff for the confusion.
A witness said, “The fans were in Liam’s family’s front garden for quite a while”.
“His dad rang the show to say he was relieved the competition was over as fans were mooching around the lawn. Geoff saw the funny side of it, thankfully.”