Newly-single Perrie Edwards breaks down in tears as Little Mix perform new track called The End... just weeks after split from fiance Zayn Malik

She's been holding it together over the past couple of weeks in the wake of her shocking split from fiance Zayn Malik. But Perrie Edwards showed a heartbreaking sign of sadness as she broke down in tears during a performance in New York on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old singer had been performing live with her Little Mix co-stars on stage during the band's fourth anniversary global live stream fan event when the tears came thick and fast.

After singing their new track The End, the pretty blonde - who had earlier put on a happier display during the girls' set on The Today Show - started crying up on the stage.

And, heart breakingly, it was the song lyric, 'no one can love you, the way I used to do,' that caused her upset.

Perrie, who was dumped by Zayn, 22, just weeks earlier, was immediately comforted by her bandmates, who gave her a brief group hug before Jesy Nelson told the concerned crowd: 'It's been a long day.'

Many of the Black Magic hitmaker's fans, who posted video footage of the incident on Instagram, also offered words of support from the crowd, shouting: 'We love you Perrie.'

The moment was caught during a live stream event while the former X Factor champions performed on NBC's 30 Rock Stage for AOL.
And fans were quick to jump to her defence on Twitter, many wishing her the best and admitting that they wanted to give her a hug after her sad display mid-song.

One fan, called @twistypayne on the social networking site, wrote: 'I love zayn but honestly perrie crying is so heartbreaking and she deserves all the privacy and respect in the world she didn't ask for this.'
Another, @chasingstyles23, added: 'That video of Perrie is almost making me cry I want to give her a big hug.'
'Perrie is really hurting,' another fan said. 'That video made me want to hug her omg.'
Another felt the need to stick up for the newly-single star, against a typical tirade of negativity from nay-sayers.
'Perrie can't even cry without y'all saying it's fake, let her live,' chided @lerriestan.
The singer previously insisted she was having 'an absolute blast' in the US since splitting from the former One Direction bandmember, with whom she had been in a serious relationship for almost four years.
Asked about life following their break up, she recently said: 'Do you know what? I'm good. I'm having an absolute blast in America, things are going so well, and I just wake up every day and I thank my lucky stars I have these three girls.'
The former couple have already put their north London home on the market for £4.2 million, just two months after they moved into the property.
But a source close to Perrie previously admitted she is reeling from their sudden split, saying: 'This was the house where Perrie expected to marry Zayn and act as his wife for the rest of their lives. It was their dream home.

'It's understandable that Perrie feels confused and led on. He must have already been having doubts about the relationship.
'This was a very serious, major financial purchase. She thought Zayn was committing to their long-term future.'

Perrie and the Little Mix girls - also including Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall - have been on a jet-set tour of the States, taking in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, performing on stage with Taylor Swift and stopping by Sunday's Teen Choice Awards where they picked up their first gong from a US awards show. 

And it has also just been revealed that they have been lined up to support One Direction - Zayn's old group - at the Apple Music Festival in London next month. 

Zayn famously left 1D back in March to be a 'normal 22 year old' and spend more time with his fiancee but she was left devastated after he dumped her out of the blue by text a few weeks ago.