A small, but excited mostly female crowd has welcomed a set of One Direction wax figurines to Madame Tussaud’s in New York.

The figurines - first unveiled in London in April - will be in the US for a number of months before they move on to Sydney, Australia, in October.

The band members were involved in the process and sat for artists’ measurements and even donating their own clothes.

The numbers attending was curtailed because of a heat wave in the city. Among those who did manage to gain access the wax figure of Co Westmeath's Niall Horan was considered the closest likeness.