ROCK band Elbow have been reunited with their latest music award after it was lost by a Girls Aloud star.

The Bury five-piece have had their NME award for outstanding contribution to British music returned after Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding lost it at an after-show party.

Elbow, who formed at Stand College in Whitefield in the 1990s, received the award in a ceremony at Brixton Academy on Wednesday night.

They were unable to attend the party afterwards and left the gong in the safe hands of the Girls Aloud singer.

But Sarah left the trophy in the club’s toilets and when she went back, it had gone.

That led to much panic but fortunately for the band — and Miss Harding — the prized accolade was later returned.

Elbow’s publicist, Tom Freeman, said: “The band asked Sarah Harding to look after their award at the after-show.

“During the course of the evening, she accidentally misplaced it but it was eventually found by a record label employee who returned it to the band the following morning.”