Image caption The singer has achieved global fame since appearing on the X Factor

One Direction star Harry Styles has won a court order stopping the paparazzi from harassing him.

The 19-year-old applied to the High Court as a last resort, after asking photographers to stop following him voluntarily, his lawyer said.

"This is not a privacy order," David Sherborne told the court. "Mr Styles is not trying to prevent fans approaching him in the street and taking photos.

"He remains happy to do that, as he always has."

"Rather, it is the method or tactics which have been used by a certain type of photographer."

Styles shot to fame after auditioning for the X Factor in 2010 as a solo artist. He was convinced to join several other contestants in forming a boy band, who have since gone on to become global superstars.

The five-piece are constantly followed by photographers and regularly complain about the behaviour of the paparazzi on their Twitter accounts.

Image caption One Direction pose for accredited photographers at the premiere of their film This Is Us in August

Last month, bandmate Niall Horan reported he had been "dragged to the floor by some idiot with a camera" at Los Angeles' LAX airport, adding: "I hate the paps!"

Liam Payne tweeted someone had tried to "force open" the balcony of his hotel room during their Australian tour in October.

Louis Tomlinson reported they were under siege from photographers, saying: "It's a beautiful day and we can't leave the hotel."

'Surveillance'

Styles's lawyer said his case concerned a series of UK-based paparazzi photographers - four of whom were in the process of being identified.

The injunction prevents an organisation identified as "Paparazzi AAA", and other photographers, from pursuing the singer by car or motorcycle, placing him under surveillance, loitering or waiting within 50 metres of his home to monitor his movements, or taking photos of him in such circumstances.

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, who first granted the injunction last week, extended the order until 13 January, when a further hearing will decide how the action should proceed.

Mr Styles, who appeared on last night's X Factor final to perform his band's new single, Midnight Memories, did not attend the brief hearing at London's High Court.