Painting by Gormenghast author stolen

The BBC made Gormenghast into a series in 2000

Police are hunting thieves who stole a painting by the artist and writer Mervyn Peake from a house in south Devon.

Mervyn Peake, who died in 1968, was the author of the Gormenghast books, and was also a painter and illustrator.

The picture, which officers have said is worth about £3,000, was taken from a house in Kingskerswell.

The painting depicted a hermit sitting on a crag with a lizard beside him.

Island connection

It was in a black frame and had a blue lining down the side.

It also had a sticker with the word "Longden" on the back, which was the name of the original art dealer.

Books Peake wrote included Titus Groan, Titus Alone, Mr Pye, Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor and Boy In Darkness.

He had one important connection with the South West after spending time on the Channel Island of Sark when it was an artists' colony in the 1930s.

The author lived there for several years and it is believed the tiny island inspired his writing.

In particular, much of the landscape of the island is supposed to have inspired some of the places depicted in the mythical world of Gormenghast.

The book was turned into a drama serial by the BBC in 2000.

Anyone with any information about the stolen picture is asked to get in contact with the police.