Gallery burglars steal 90 paintings

A Warm Friday Night is among the stolen paintings

Police are appealing for the public's help to find 90 paintings stolen from an art gallery in Manchester.

Burglars broke into the Phoenix Gallery on Ellesmere Street in the Hulme area of the city.

They took 90 paintings and photographs of art shows.

The owner of the gallery, Philip Aird, said many of the paintings stolen were his own work, and had taken almost six years to complete.

The break-in happened between 1900 BST on Tuesday and 0900 BST on Wednesday.

Mr Aird said: "Some of the paintings didn't hold a particularly high value but there were a few which were worth quite a lot.

'Feel guilty'

"I had one painting which was an original of 'The Dome Cafe' by Charlie Shield which had recently been valued at £5,750.

"The worst thing about the whole affair is that I feel guilty and partly responsible for the other artists' work that I was keeping here.

"It is one thing having your own work stolen but to lose someone else's is a terrible feeling."

Police are urging anyone who saw the paintings being stolen, or are offered any for sale, to contact them, or call Crimestoppers.