Just some of the items on display Picture Ref: 77202-57A POLICE gym has been turned into an Aladdin's cave of valuable stolen antiques.

The paintings, furniture, watches and jewellery worth thousands of pounds are all on display at Westlea police station.

Detectives from Scotland Yard's art and antiques squad are hoping to return the possessions to their rightful owners.

The haul was seized when cops smashed what is believed to be the country's biggest network of antique thieves.

The ring is believed to have been responsible for stealing about £30 million of artefacts in a series of meticulously planned raids.

Among the gang's targets were country properties in Wiltshire and the south west, including the home of millionaire Paddy McNally near Highworth.

Items on show yesterday ranged from furniture and oil paintings to African masks and statues.

Among those at yesterday's viewing was 77-year-old Ralph Hack, who had travelled from Bristol to search for his father's watch and chain and a painting.

Although not hugely valuable, they were both treasured family heirlooms.

Ralph lost them to bogus callers. "This woman said she felt unwell and asked for a drink of water," he said. "I took her to the kitchen, and while we were in there an accomplice slipped in unnoticed.

"I was really hoping to find them today because of the sentimental value.

"I have a photograph of my father with the watch on his wedding day."

Another visitor a 65-year-old man from Marlborough who asked not to be named was looking for furniture, clocks and silverware.

"They had been in my family for generations, and the idea was to hand them on to my children," he said.

"We were very upset about the burglary, it's a nasty experience."

Others had more luck.

Two visitors thought they had spotted property and police took statements.

Detectives working on the operation each have their favourite artefacts.

For Detective Constable Michelle Roycroft it's a 200-year-old oil painting of a young prince worth £30,000.

"It's just beautiful," she said. "I think it was stolen from a restorer because there are marks on the canvas."

Letters were also among the items on show. One written in August 1954 is from aircraft pioneer Sir Geoffrey de Havilland.

In it he states that the Vixen and Vulture would be good names for one of his planes, but adds that it would need the approval of the Air Ministry.

For Detective Sergeant Vernon Rapley, head of the art and antiques squad, seeing owners reunited with their property is the best part of the job.

"Some of these items have been in families for hundreds of years, and people often think they will never seem the again," he said.

Anyone who has lost antiques can attend two more viewings between 10am and 5pm today and from 10am and 2pm tomorrow.

Receipts, photographs or other identifying documents are needed before items can be returned.

Tamash Lal