Time to say goodbye: Teary Caroline Flack waves off boyfriend Harry Styles as he begins One Direction tour Kicked off in Watford

It must be difficult for women dating singers when their boyfriends have to join their bandmates on tour.

So Caroline Flack can be forgiven for shedding a few tears as she dropped One Direction singer Harry Styles off at the Watford Colosseum earlier this week for the first date of the group's UK tour.

The 32-year-old Xtra Factor host looked suspiciously bright-eyed and put her hand up to her mouth as she watched Harry, 17, make his way into the venue from her car.

Time to say goodbye: Caroline Flack looked teary as she waved off boyfriend Harry Styles on his One Direction tour in Watford yesterday

Excited: But Harry looked much more composed as he waved cheerily to his girlfriend while heading inside

The latest pictures of Caroline and Harry are likely to cause more controversy for the pair, who have found themselves the centre of strong debates around age differences in relationships.

Yesterday Kerry Katona had her say on the pairing, commenting: 'If it's a Demi and Ashton situation, that's different because they're older.

'But Harry is just a 17-year-old boy, so in my eyes it's just wrong. He's not long left school. He's not even allowed to drink yet.'

Kerry's comments came after Alex Gerrard made similar notes last week,, saying: ' Apparently Caroline Flack is now dating Harry Styles after their kiss a few weeks back.

'She's 15 years older than him but I don't think it's the age gap that makes the relationship a little odd, it's the fact he's 17!

But Caroline's Xtra Factor co-host Olly Murs has come forward to defend the pretty brunette, insisting that her relationship with Harry is 'not concrete'.

He said: 'Nothing's concrete. It's all good. Everyone tweets what they want but no-one knows the inside truth - that's private.

The pair met while Flack hosted The Xtra Factor and soon sparked more rumours of a romance when Harry refused to confirm or deny the relationship.

However, when Caroline was confronted over the controversy surrounding the relationship in a recent interview, she said she didn't believe she had done anything wrong.

She said: ' I feel like I shouldn’t have to worry about what I do. But it’s a social thing that people aren’t accepting of big age gaps.'

'Some people tend to see the negative immediately and that's what I find really strange.'

'If two people like each other and get on, why does anyone else find a negative in it? I know it's human nature for everyone to gossip. But why say it's bad? No one's being hurt at all in anyway.'

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

If it was the other way round - man dating 20 year younger women - then it'd be fine! Leave them alone, if they're in love who cares?

so what, they both look like they are having fun, Harry will never forget his experiences with an older girl, lets hope he learns alot from it,

Presumably he wasn't upset cos he has been waiting for weeks to play with his Lego and nows his chance. This kid is way too young to be mixed up with her.only just old enough to drive , not old enough to vote or go to see some films at the cinema. There's age limits on these things because it's recognised maturity is required

Can't help wondering if this is for newspaper inches. If nothing else it's getting her lots of attention.

Now look its all about love, right here right now. My hubbie is 15 years my senior and we 'the' match. Get over these comments and enjoy. Life is for living.

She is too old for him and looks older than 32. She is almost twice his age. The age gap will eventually make a difference and it won't work. I am sure that there are a lot of disappointed wee girls out there because the cute one from One Direction is dating a woman the same age as thie mum

Whilst the hypocrisy about this relationship angers me, as if it was an older MAN with a young GIRL, most people would't bat an eyelid, I do have to wonder what an earth she is doing messing about with a boy not even shaving yet. What is the attraction? is its seriously bizarre, not to mention doomed.

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