The Clash bassist Paul Simonon took away a token to remember the Hammersmith Palais at a gig last night - a piece of the stage.

Performing at a special farewell gig with his new band, The Good, The Bad and The Queen, Simonon to took an axe to the stage as the performance came to a close.

The music venue in West London officially closed down today, and is to be replaced by a block of flats, but not before Simonon took what he considered rightfully his.

The Clash song 'White Man in Hammersmith Palais' immortalised the venue and the basssist told NME, "I think I've done enough to deserve a piece of the stage."

The Good, The Bad and The Queen frontman Damon Albarn said: "It's a real shame they're knocking this place down. It used to be a tea-dance hall, where people would come on their breaks, drink tea and have a dance, that sounds very sophisticated.

"There is no reason why they should pull it down."