The audience at the final Police concert was calling out for more.

But when Sting came back on stage, there was less of him.

The 56-year-old star took advantage of the pre-encore break to have his scruffy grey beard removed by a bevy of female stylists.

Enlarge 

Enlarge 

Close shave: Sting got rid of his bushy grey beard for this last concert of The Police tour

And just in case the New York fans should have failed to notice his smooth new appearance, the whole operation was relayed to them on huge video screens at Madison Square Garden.

Fresh-faced: Sting in 1978

Quite what was the point of Sting's gesture remains open to conjecture, although some observers suggested it was a symbolic cleansing for the New Age man following 14 months on the road.

The show was the 150th and last of the band's reunion tour, which is estimated to have made them more than £180million.

It included all their hits, including Message In A Bottle and Every Breath You Take.

Sting thanked bandmates Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland for their 'musicianship, companionship and understanding'.

That's all folks: The Police ended their tour in New York

He 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.'

As he left the stage to cries for an encore, cameras followed him backstage where he sat, shirtless, as he was given his facial.

He still had shaving cream on the corner of his mouth as he came out to sing Roxanne.

The Police: (L-R) Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland

Fan club: Actress Rosanna Arquette and Trudie Styler cheered on backstage