Fans begin queuing for One Direction tickets due to go on sale at 9am

Thousands of "directioners" are expected to brave cold weather conditions over the coming hours to queue for tickets due to go on sale at 9am this morning for two One Direction gigs in Dublin.

The boy band sold 240,000 tickets to three Croke Park gigs earlier this year, and fans have already begun to form queues at ticket outlets, despite a warning from concert promoter Aiken Promotions that queuing before 7am is not permitted.

Mullingar man Niall Horan has said he "cannot wait" for the group's Dublin gigs, which will take place in the 3Arena on October 16th and 17th next year, following the band's global tour.

The group will also play two dates in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on October 20th and 21st.

In a special message to their fans, One Direction said they were "really excited" to be touring in the UK and Ireland, "where it all started for us".

Niall Horan tweeted recently: “Ireland ! you ready for On The Road Again 2015 ? Coming home for ya!! Tickets on sale 6th Dec !”

Aiken Promotions has warned fans that tickets should only be purchased from official outlets.

They also said “no queuing is permitted at ticket outlets until 7am”.

One Direction’s new album “Four” is their biggest yet – having reached number one on the iTunes chart in 85 countries with sales of over two million in just one week.

The album has also seen them make history by becoming the first ever act to debut at the top of the US Billboard charts with each of their first four albums.

Tickets for the gigs are priced from €59.50 to €87.50.