Liam Payne left pantless after underwear thief strikes

One Direction star Liam Payne has been left mortified after his underwear was stolen from his hotel balcony.

The British pop star is currently in Australia with his bandmates, and enjoyed a dip in the ocean in his boxer shorts.

After later waking to find someone trying to get into his room via his hotel balcony, Payne later discovered the perpetrator had made off with his pants.

Taking to Twitter.com, the singer explains, "Strangest way I've ever been woken up, When ur (you're) in bed butt naked an sum1 (someone) is trying to force open your balcony this is gunna be a strange day (sic).

"Hmmm somebody stole my boxers I'm so embarrassed. So how this happened... I went in the sea in those hotel staff put them outside to dry sum1 (someone) climbed on and stole them just to set the scene."