POLICE are trying to trace the owners of hundreds of works of art that were recovered in a raid.

In May 2015, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Action Fraud acted on allegations that people involved with Opus Fine Art Gallery in Stow-on-the-Wold had been "dishonestly" selling art.

It is alleged the former the owners of the gallery, Donald Smith and Emma Poole, were selling works without the owners' permission, and that some of those being sold were stolen.

Reports suggest that after selling up earlier this year, the couple moved to the south of France with their young child.

Detectives believe they have used the proceeds from selling the business to buy a 47-acre property with three barns.

Officers seized hundreds of pieces held by the company, 600 of which are yet to be claimed.

The investigation is said to involve the proceeds of more than half a million pounds of sales including work by artists such as Damien Hirst, Marc Quinn and Andy Warhol.

A police spokesman said: “Officers are working to bring any perpetrators of fraud or theft in this case to justice, and in due course to reunite the works with their owners.

“Any person who has entrusted their artwork to Opus Fine Art Gallery, or who has purchased but not received their items, is urged to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary either on 101 quoting crime reference 11675/15 or by using our online reporting system: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact-us/report-a-crime-or-incident/”