One Direction have started working on a new album..

The "Little Things" pop stars are hoping to release the follow-up to 2012's "Take Me Home" by the end of the year, but Louis Tomlinson has insisted the band won't be hurrying themselves. "We've already started recording the new album, we started about a month ago. We've been writing and recording it while on tour. We are really happy with it. We don't want to rush it, but it will be out for Christmas," he said.

The group - whose line-up is completed by Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan - were rumored to be wanting to take several months off to work on the record, but it is said the quintet remain "career minded."

"There was talk about the boys taking some time off before the next album but it was decided to release the record while they are so popular. The band are going from strength to strength so it would be silly not to have an album out in time for the profitable Christmas market. All the lads are incredibly hardworking and career minded. Although they are knackered, they all love what they are doing," an insider said.