Egyptian statue in forgery claim

There are only two similar exhibits in the world

Two men have been bailed by police investigating the alleged forgery of a valuable Egyptian statue.

The 3,300-year-old Amarna Princess was bought by Bolton Museum nearly three years ago for £440,000 to add to its existing Egyptology collection.

The 52cm-high sculpture is believed to be one of the daughters of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen, Nefertiti.

Metropolitan Police Art & Antiques Unit arrested two Bolton men aged 83 and 46 on suspicion of forgery last week.

They have been bailed until May pending further inquiries.

The statue, which was acquired in September 2003, has been removed from public view.

It was bought by the museum form a local family in Bolton, Greater Manchester, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Detectives from London also seized an artefact from the British Museum which had been taken there for an examination by experts.