Anthony pays tribute to cop

Latin star Marc Anthony has paid an emotional tribute to a former policeman who stopped the star from dabbling in drugs and violence in the dangerous East Harlem neighbourhood where he grew up.

The husband of Jennifer Lopez spoke at an annual Hispanic heritage celebration at the New York Police Department, and thanked officer Kevin Lowry for making him go to school each day.

Anthony said: "I owe thanks to Lowry for keeping me on the straight and narrow."

Lowry did not attend the ceremony but sent a statement which modestly insisted: "I was just doing a policeman's job."