A LAST-ditch attempt has been launched to trace a piece of Bolton's art heritage which was stolen by opportunist thieves - six years ago.

The £10,000 watercolour disappeared as it was being transferred from a vault at Bolton Museum to Smitihills Hall in 1999.

Detectives who investigated the theft of the 42cm by 50cm watercolour, entitled By An Italian Ruin, painted by the artist William Leighton Leitch, believed it was stolen from the back of a van prior to it being unloaded.

The painting's description was circulated to art dealers and auction house, but the painting never turned up.

Police today appealed for any information, in a bid to return the picture to its rightful home.

Det Con Steve Mahon of Bolton Police said: "Six years have passed since anything was last seen of the painting and we would very much like to return it to the people of Bolton.

"Someone may have hidden it while they waited to find a buyer or it could be hanging on someone's wall after they bought it quite innocently."

The painting shows a Victorian scene in green, pink and blue colours on a cream background.

Leighton Leitch was a Scottish artist who worked in the mid-19th century and painted landscapes, often of Italian scenes.

The stolen painting was thought to have been the only Leighton Leitch painting held in Bolton Council's collection, which includes more than 3,500 items.

l Anyone with information can contact police on 0161 856 5623 quoting crime reference number 286845H/99.