One Direction frustrated by album leak

One Direction have been left frustrated after their new album leaked online a week before its scheduled release.

Midnight Memories, the boyband's third studio disc, is due to hit retailers next week (begs25Nov13), but computer hackers spoiled the big unveiling for fans by getting a hold of the new material and making it available on file-sharing websites late on Monday (18Nov13).

The Best Song Ever hitmakers hope the leak won't discourage devotees from purchasing the music legally as they are eager to score another number one album in the U.K. charts.

Singer Liam Payne tells DigitalSpy.co.uk, "It is annoying because there's this big build-up and it affects sales. We really want a number one, so we're just kind of hoping for the best now. Hopefully, people go out and buy it... It happens these days all the time. There are some very clever people out there. You're buggers!"

Bandmate Louis Tomlinson adds, "It's just frustrating when you work so hard on an album and you kind of want everyone to hear it at the same time. Some select fans won't listen to it until it's out, which is great. But there are others who obviously can't help themselves."

However, Harry Styles admits he doesn't blame fans for jumping at the chance to hear the new album days before release: "If there was an album I liked and I could listen to it a week before, I probably would. It's just nice to have that moment where it builds up to, 'Now it's out and everyone can listen to it.'"

One Direction hit the top of the U.K. albums chart last year (12) with Take Me Home. Their debut release, 2011's Up All Night, peaked at number two.