ART experts have been enlisted by police to help track down an oil painting of a mystery woman worth thousands of pounds.
The painting, called Portrait of a Lady, was one of several items stolen from a house on the outskirts of Tanfield Village, near Stanley.
The painting, valued for inheritance assessment reasons at £6,000 but thought to be worth much more, was stolen on the night of June 9 or the early morning of June 10.
Stanley police have contacted art dealers and other experts across the area to put them on the alert.
The painting was signed by artist Wilson Steer, and has been in the family since the 1950s.
The burglars also stole a blue and white Satsuma dish worth £250, as well as gardening equipment. They also took an antique carriage clock, but that was later recovered from a nearby field.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Stanley police on (01207) 232144 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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