Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, has revealed how one of his guitars was stolen in Bristol – 38 years ago.

The composer of such classic pop hits as Matthew and Son and Father and Son believes one of his beloved instruments was taken after he appeared at the Colston Hall.

The 60-year-old singer made the revelation during an interview with Jools Holland, on his TV show Later.

Holland showed classic footage of Yusuf performing Father and Son in 1971. He was playing a black acoustic six string with cream edging.

Holland said: "A lot of people will be thinking we're showing that to illustrate just one small part of your talent. In fact we're showing that as a part of a police film, because that guitar was stolen you said?"

The singer replied: "Yes that's right.

"In fact they stole it once, we got it back and they did it again, and I never got it back. It was somewhere in Bristol, we found out."

Holland then asked if he was a bit careless with the guitar to have it stolen a second time.

Yusuf replied: "I blame my roadie every time."

When asked if the roadie was still working with him, he joked: "No, certainly not".

Yusuf was born Steven Demetre Georgiou, became Cat Stevens and took on his new name in the late 1970s when he became a Muslim. At the same time he retired from the music industry for nearly 20 years before returning in the mid 1990s.

During his 43-year career, he has sold more than 60 million albums. His last known performance in Bristol was at the Colston Hall on September 10, 1971, during the same tour the performance footage was recorded.

The Post attempted to contact the singer to see if the theft was the reason he never blessed the city with a show again, but he was unavailable for comment.