Officer aids da Vinci inquiry

The painting was stolen in broad daylight

A senior officer from another force has been drafted in to help Scottish police trying to trace a missing Leonardo da Vinci painting.

Madonna with the Yarnwinder was stolen from the home of the Duke of Buccleuch - Scotland's richest man - at the end of August.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has been leading the hunt for the gang sought following the theft at Drumlanrig Castle.

It announced that an officer from Strathclyde, Scotland's biggest force, will review progress in the case.

This practice occurs throughout Scotland and a force will usually request another force to complete the review Police spokesman

Police said the move was not unusual and was in line with Scottish police procedures, whereby a serious crime inquiry is reviewed.

A Dumfries and Galloway force spokesman said: "This practice occurs throughout Scotland and a force will usually request another force to complete the review," said a statement from Dumfries and Galloway.

"In the past, senior Dumfries and Galloway officers have been involved in such a review.

"In this case, the review will be led by a senior officer from Strathclyde Police, assisted by local officers from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary."

The artwork is valued at between £25 and £50m and was stolen on 27 August.

Police have been searching for four men involved in the raid and the Duke of Buccleuch has issued a reward for help in tracing the artwork.

Two of the men who posed as tourists overpowered a female member of staff and took the artwork.

The gang got away in a white Volkswagen Golf car, later found abandoned in woodland.