The Police perform final gig

Updated 17.32 Fri Aug 08 2008

Keywords: greatest hits, don't stand so close to me, walking on the moon, new york, madison square gardens, roxanne, andy summer, sting, the police

For the second time in history, The Police have performed their last ever concert but this time round were joined by the real police - the New York City police band.

The trio have bowed out with a charity gig at Madison Square Gardens after being on the road since May last year.

"This was never meant to be forever. Nothing is" - Sting

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

"That's not to say it hasn't crossed my mind, or Stewart's, or Andy's."

Sting took an unusual break after the main set and before the first encore - lying back in a barber's chair backstage as two blond women shaved the salt-and-pepper beard that he had been sporting.

His make-over was beamed to a giant screen above the stage as fans cheered and chanted for more music.

He bounced back on stage fresh-faced and without his shirt on to deliver crowd-pleasers "Roxanne" and "So Lonely."

The veteran rockers said they have no regrets about organising the reunion tour which saw them perform 150 concerts for 3.7 million people.

They have pulled in more than £160 million for performing around the world.

The concert marked the grand finale to Sting and co's massive 15th month tour following The Police's surprise reunion last year.

"This was never meant to be forever. Nothing is."