Rock band The Police have performed the final concert of their reunion tour in New York's Madison Square Garden.

In what is thought to have been their farewell show, frontman Sting thanked his bandmates for their "musicianship, companionship and understanding".

It was the 150th show of their reunion tour which has lasted 14 months and was the top-earning tour of 2007.

The band scored a string of hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s and played their first US concert in New York.

The band played at the far smaller CBGB's nightclub in 1978.

Sting told the crowd: "The real triumph of this tour is that we haven't strangled each other.

"Not to say it hasn't crossed my mind - or Andy's or Stewart's," he added.

After playing a set that included covers of Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze' and 'Sunshine of Your Love' by Cream, the trio walked off stage to the cartoon signature tune, That's All, Folks.

During the show, Sting removed his shirt and had his greying beard shaved off by some female stylists and was kissed by drummer Stewart Copeland.

The singer was also joined on stage by three of his daughters at one point during the set, while New York City's police band also performed with the group.

The tour, during which the band are estimated to have played to more than three million people, has made 0m (£181m).

© BBC News