One Direction star Zayn Malik (right) has got anti-smoking campaigners fuming after being snapped sucking on a cigarette at the height of the nationwide Stoptober campaign.

The 19-year-old, of Bradford, was pictured dragging deeply on a filter cigarette while he and the lads from the globally-successful band were in London.

Unshaven and in a trademark black leather jacket, Zayn’s habit sent out all the wrong messages, said Eileen Streets, director of tobacco control for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

“It’s disappointing to see someone like Zayn smoking in public, as he’s a role model for many young people, especially young girls,” she said.

“However, I’ve read he is attempting to give up, but finding it very difficult. This is the message we should be giving to young people, that’s it’s not cool to smoke and even popstars, like Zayn, are desperate to give up.

So our message is not to start in the first place. “ When Zayn told of becoming addicted to cigarettes as a 15-year-old websites were full of fans begging him to quit.