One Direction's Niall Horan Will Make "A Wonderful Husband"

15 July 2012, 12:42 | Updated: 15 July 2012, 12:47

The 'Gotta Be You' singer's dad says his son is very independent for his age.

One Direction's Niall Horan's father has said his son will make a "wonderful husband".

Bobby, 51, said the 'What Makes You Beautiful' singer had become very independent from a young age after his mother and father split when Niall was only five.

Niall and his older brother Greg initially went to live with his mother, but later returned to stay with their dad.

"When he was at school I tried to get home for 4.30pm, but I started early mornings, so Niall had to get himself up and walk the mile-and-a-half to school," Bobby told the Sunday Mirror.

"So he's well-adapted for where he is now... independent and away from home. He’ll make someone a wonderful husband."

Niall steps out with of One Direction's minders:

Meanwhile, Bobby admitted that Niall sometimes struggled to handle the attention he gets from women following's the band's huge worldwide success over the last 18 months.

"There are hordes of young girls around him, and not much room to breathe anywhere. He says it can be frightening," he said.

"Coming out of airports and girls crowding around their cars, he’s started to get really claustrophobic."

Niall recently returned from a holiday in Marbella to rejoin his One Direction band mates as they shot the artwork for their forthcoming new album.

The record has yet to be given a release date, but there is speculation that it could arrive before the end of 2012.