One Direction are splitting up, at least for a year. Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Niall Horan, have agreed to take an 'extended hiatus of at least a year' after their next album is released.

According to a shocking new report, they will not be embarking on another world tour. Is this the end of One Direction?

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

According to the paper, the group, who were formed on the UK X Factor in 2010 and have gone on to conquer the world, made the decision during crunch talks in London last weekend and their final show will be at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on October 31.

The Sun reports that they have some work commitments in February and will take their break in March.

They have been performing non-stop since starting their “On The Road Again” world tour and have admitted that they were ready for a break. However, the long break doesn't mean that the band is dismantling for good.

“It is definitely not a split, and they fully intend to get back together at some time in the future” the source continued. “But for now it is the end and they go out on top as the world’s most popular music act.”

Indeed the news should not come as a shock as just a few weeks ago, Liam insisted the group were desperately in need of some time out.

He hinted that the hard-working band were planning to take some time off following the release of their fifth studio album later this year.

Speaking during an interview with Free radio , Liam explained: "You know, I think everyone needs a little bit of a break now, and a sit down and a stop, to kind of take in all the great things that've happened."

It’s been a pretty hectic year for the boys, who recently released the music video for their new song “Drag Me Down.”

Zayn Malik, who used to be one-fifth of the band, left the group in March 2015 to start his solo career. It was tough to lose Zayn, but their impending break had nothing to do with him.

“This was the plan with or without Zayn,” the source said. “In fact, the band have been making amazing music and been incredibly happy without Zayn. Of course they would have preferred that he had stayed in the band, but they would have taken this extended hiatus even if he hadn’t left."