The British star, best known for his role in hit TV show The Royle Family, discovered his vehicle had disappeared from outside the bar he owns in Liverpool, England on Saturday (19Sep15).

He reported the theft to authorities and has appealed for help in tracking down the car and its contents because it contained one of the few surviving photographs of his late son Clifton, who died in 2004 aged 33.

Tomlinson tells Britain's Liverpool Echo newspaper, "The car was full of stuff... But most importantly there was a photo of my son. It's one of only a few photos of him I've got.

"The man must have been outside the Green Room (bar) and spotted me through the window. I think it was just a spur of the moment thing. When I came back the keys had gone and when I looked outside the car had gone too. It was a real shock... The police were there very quickly but weren't able to find it."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police says, "Officers received a report that a black Vauxhall Anatara Exclusiv had been stolen after keys were taken from a property on Duke Street. Officers attended and conducted a search of the area but the car is yet to be recovered."