HEIRLOOMS worth some £40,000 have been stolen in a raid on Opposition leader David Cameron’s in-laws.

Raiders targeted Sutton Park, at Sutton-on-the-Forest near Easingwold, the home of Sir Reginald Sheffield and his wife, Lady Sheffield, in the early hours of Thursday.

They spent two minutes in the house, which contains 18th century furniture, paintings mostly from Buckingham Palace, and an important collection of porcelain, before fleeing with two of the most expensive antiques in the house.

Taken were a bronze bust of an oriental woman by French sculptor Charles Henri Cordier, worth around £20,000, and a Meissen teapot in the form of a monkey, again worth around £20,000.

Police and the Sheffields are now appealing for help in tracing the items - and a £5,000 reward is on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the burglars.

Sir Reginald said: "They were two of the nicest artefacts in the house.

"What’s really galling is that the bronze sculpture was one of a pair and they were recently exhibited in Paris, New York and Montreal.

"The Meissen monkey was a family heirloom, which has been in my family for a long time. I’m devastated."

He said it was the second time the house had been targeted in a month.

"They tried to break in about two weeks ago, but were scared off by the security alarm. Police had warned me they might come back.

"We think they were professional burglars who were paid to steal these items.

"The house was fully alarmed and according to the alarm company, they only spent two minutes in the house."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 6060 247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.