The gravestone of Ian Curtis, the former frontman of Joy Division, has been stolen from a cemetery in Cheshire.

Police have launched an appeal for possible witnesses to the theft, which took place between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

The gravestone is inscribed with the words 'Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80' and the song lyric 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.

Curtis hung himself at the age of 23 shortly before the band were due to embark on their first tour of the United States.

A spokesperson for the Police said that the there is no CCTV in the area and there are no apparent leads in the investigation.

"This is a very unusual theft and I am confident that someone locally will have knowledge about who is responsible or where the memorial stone is at present,” the spokesperson added.

(by Jason Gregory)