Louis Tomlinson's estranged father Troy Austin wants to be ''involved'' in his grandchild's life.

The 46-year-old hotel worker - who split from the 23-year-old One Direction star's mother when he was five - saw little of Louis growing up as they lived at opposite ends of the United Kingdom, and haven't spoken to each other for three years after an angry call.

However, Troy is now hoping the fact that Louis is reportedly due to be having a baby with his former lover Briana Jungwirth will bring the two back together.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, he said: ''I'd like to be involved in my grandchild's life. I've missed out on Louis' life and I'd like to make up for that. It's definitely time to heal the rift. Life is too short.''

Briana's father Joe is also looking forward to his first grandchild, and has said he'll support his 23-year-old daughter and the 'Little Things' hitmaker.

The 56-year-old construction worker said: ''It's all good.''

However, Briana's stepmother fears having a baby with Louis will ''ruin'' the stylist's life.

Briana is around three months pregnant with the 'Story of My Life' singer's first child and Karen Lawrence is worried about the backlash she has already received from the group's fans.

She said: ''I'm distressed for all the c**p I've read online in the middle of the night.

''It's exciting for us and, you know, it's unusual and very strange. But last night in the middle of the night in my anxiety I was like, I'm not gonna look again, because it's too weird these days, what things are said on Twitter, it's just crazy stuff.''