DETECTIVES are hoping to track down a gang of art thieves with a little help from a...BARN OWL.

The 18-inch tall owl sculpture, made from pewter, was one of the works of art stolen in a £7,000 raid on a Bolton art gallery.

Police say the owl is so distinctive, local art lovers will realise it has been stolen if it is offered for sale.

The owl was one of more than 20 items stolen from the Last Drop Gallery, Bromley Cross. The haul also included a ceramic polecat, a tawny owl and pewter sculptures of many smaller birds including a kingfisher, wren and a mallard.

They are the work of wildlife sculptor John Hurst, who has owned the Last Drop studio since 1980. Mr Hurst is a director of Merlin Fine Art.

The sculptures were stolen in two night time break-ins last week. In the first smash and grab raid a week ago, thieves stole 10 sculptures from the display window at the gallery.

Four days later the thieves returned and removed the entire plate glass display window to steal another dozen works of art.

Detectives believe the thieves may now try to sell the sculptures to art collectors, local dealers or at car boot sales.

Anyone who thinks they know the whereabouts of any of the property or has any information is asked to contact Det Con Paul Regan at Astley Bridge police station, tel: 0161 856 5752.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.