Ziggy Stardust anniversary to be marked by plaque

The 1972 album helped make David Bowie a worldwide singer

David Bowie's glam rock alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust, will be celebrated with a plaque, 40 years after he appeared on the cover of Bowie's 1972 album.

The plaque will be placed on Heddon Street in central London, where Bowie was first photographed as Ziggy.

The shot was used for the front cover of his album The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.

Other fictional characters celebrated with plaques include Sherlock Holmes and Lara Croft.

The album cover shows Bowie, dressed as Ziggy - in a blue jumpsuit, leaning against a building and holding a guitar.

The late photographer Brian Ward, who had rented a space indoors for the shoot, decided to take the photo outside - but the rest of the band declined to join Bowie because of bad weather.

The album was released on 6 June 1972, and helped catapult Bowie to worldwide stardom.

Bowie's creation Ziggy has been attributed with influencing such diverse musicians as Spandau Ballet, Suede and Florence and the Machine.

Since the photo shoot, Heddon Street has been transformed into a pedestrianised courtyard and is now a popular place for eating out.

The Crown Estate will unveil the plaque later this month.