As the new Darkness album nears its release next month, a CD containing all of the band's new tunes has been put on eBay Australia without permission. But instead of putting an end to the unauthorised auction, the band had a better idea!

Justin Hawkins, the The Darkness front man, splashed out £350 of his own hard earned dosh to win his own album, promising to find out who was responsible for the leak.

Only a handful of journalists and record company figures have been sent the CD - the band has been extremely cautious and even more selective when giving out advanced copies because of piracy fears.

As for the pirate himself, he can run but he won't be able to hide; not if Hawkins has anything to say about it.

The singer told the BBC News website:

"I've bought our own album back off this character who's selling it on eBay," said Justin Hawkins,

"It cost me £350 and it's going to be a tenner when it's in the shops - with artwork.

"It's encoded so we'll have a name and a number - so we'll know which disc it is, who distributed it and who they distributed it to. And that person is going to go down.

"He is either going to get some sort of legal intervention or he certainly won't receive an album from our record company ever again."