Former One Direction star Zayn Malik has been sending raunchy photographs and text messages to singer Lily Allen to woo her.

According to a source to The Sun newspaper, Allen is flattered by his gestures, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"Zayn fancies Lily and has made that very clear. He has even sent her X-rated pictures and raunchy texts which Lily has told quite a few people in her close circle about. She's flattered," a source said. 

Malik and Allen have met numerous times, including on a flight here in 2013 and again at the 2014 BRIT Awards, but it is only now that he has tried to pursue her.

However, the "Air balloon" hitmaker Allen has been married to Sam Cooper since 2011 and the couple have two children, Ethel and Marnie.

Meanwhile, Malik has been romantically linked to a string of female following his split from Perrie Edwards. He was also reportedly smitten by an Indian-origin Burberry model Neelam Gill.