Liam Payne 'planning post-pregnancy proposal for Cheryl'

Liam Payne wants to propose to Cheryl as soon as she’s given birth.

The One Direction singer and the 33-year-old pop star have been dating for less than a year but he is planning to pop the question in the delivery room after being inspired by the way the brunette beauty’s best friend Kimberley Walsh’s partner Justin Scott got down on one knee two years ago.

A source told the Daily Star: “Liam got the idea to propose straight after the birth after finding out that Justin popped the question after the delivery of their first child. It’s given Liam so many ideas. There will definitely be wedding bells sooner than we expected.”

Cheryl is expected to give birth in early 2017 but I Don’t Care hitmaker will have to lean on her family for a bit as her 23-year-old boyfriend is set to jet across to Los Angeles next year to put the finishing touches on his debut solo album.

A source said recently: “Liam is doing what he can to make sure he spends as much time as possible with Cheryl before and after the birth, but some commitments can’t be changed.

“Luckily Cheryl has an incredibly supportive family, who will rally round if they are needed. They will also be helping her and Liam after the birth, as Cheryl is saying she doesn’t want to get a nanny.”

The pair are yet to officially confirm their baby news but set tongues wagging last week when the brunette beauty stepped out at a charity event with a burgeoning baby bump.

Cheryl – who has been married twice to Ashley Cole and Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini – started dating Liam in February.

But the pair first met when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 when he was just 14 and she was on the talent show’s judging panel.

This will be the second One Direction baby following Liam’s bandmate Louis Tomlinson having son Freddie with Los Angeles-based stylist Briana Jungwirth in January.