Adele has asked Donald Trump to stop playing her music at his US presidential campaign rallies.

It comes after her hit Rolling in the Deep was played at the Republican contender's rally in Iowa.

In a statement, a spokesman for Adele said: "Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning."

The spokesman did not say whether Adele, whose new album "25" was the biggest seller in the US last year, was contemplating legal steps to prevent the unauthorised use of her music.

Adele is not the only celebrity to have seen politicians co-opt their music for political purposes.

Rock band R.E.M. lashed out in September at Trump for using its hit song, "It's the End of the World" at a rally while Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler forced him to stop using the song Dream On during campaigning last year.

Trump responded on Twitter saying he had the legal right to use the song, but had found "a better one to take its place".

He added: "Steven Tyler got more publicity on his song request than he's gotten in 10 years. Good for him!"