THIEVES who raided the gallery of one of the region's best-known artists picked out the four most valuable works.

The £2,000 burglary at John Degnan's home in Bowes, County Durham, was the most serious incident in a night of crime that shocked residents in the rural community.

Mr Degnan, whose work is found in private collections all over the world, cleared out the gallery after discovering the theft yesterday morning. The missing paintings were all scenes of Teesdale.

He said: "I was really shocked. They targeted the biggest and most valuable works.

"They all take an age to complete and it is upsetting to lose them."

Another cottage in the village was broken into, although nothing was taken, and a resident's car was stolen.

The car, a dark blue Vauxhall Carlton, registration number H580 NEF, was found yesterday morning abandoned in Lazenby Road, Middlesbrough.

Inspector Kevin Tuck, of Barnard Castle police, said the crimes could be linked.

He said: "It is alarming. Rural crime can occur anywhere, but it is unusual for there to be so much crime in a small place like Bowes.

"It is possible that the paintings were stolen to order, but it may be the criminals intent on targeting Bowes just stumbled unwittingly on the gallery.

"Fortunately, this level of crime is rare in Teesdale, which is a very safe place to live."

He urged people to tell police if they saw anyone acting suspiciously or noticed unfamiliar vehicles in the Bowes area.

The pictures were a 3ft by 2ft watercolour of trees at Gilmonby, worth £400, a £600 chalk illustration of sheep-judging at Bowes Show, an acrylic of the Hagg, at Cotherstone, also worth £600, and a £300 panoramic view of Barnard Castle at twilight, featuring the County Bridge.

Anyone with information is asked to call Barnard Castle police on (01833) 637 328 or the Crimestoppers line 0800 555 111