TWO prints have been stolen from an art gallery by a man who fled on a bike.

A police spokesman said the theft took place at the Biscuit Factory on Stoddart Street, Newcastle, at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

A man walked into the gallery and pulled down two large prints which were hanging on a wall.

He then ran from the gallery and escaped with them on a bike which was outside.

The prints are photographs which have been transferred onto canvas and look like oil paintings.

One is a scene of the Newcastle Quayside and the other is of Embleton Bay. Both are signed by the artist, Paul Wright, in the bottom right hand corner.

Both are framed in a double frame the inner part of the frame is black and the outer frame is smoky grey to black. Both are 20in by 62in and are each worth £450.

The suspect is described as 6ft tall, of skinny build. He was wearing a black baseball cap with a white logo, a t-shirt or jumper and jeans.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.