A MUSEUM volunteer has recovered a stolen Victorian antique after detective work on the internet.

Brian Iles was able to direct police to a seller on the internet auction site ebay.

His actions have opened a new line of inquiry for detectives probing the break-in at Malvern Museum in January.

The Victorian watch stand, made from medieval wood, is now safely back with the museum's collection.

Mr Iles has been keeping an eye on the auction market after thieves escaped with parts of Malvern's history from the Abbey Road venue.

"I collect Malvern items myself and I've kept an eye on antique sales and fairs and ebay to see if any of the museum's stuff crops up," said Mr Iles.

"As soon as I saw a picture of it on the site I recognised it."

The stand's seller, who bought the item at a sale in Kinver, Staffordshire, was told by Mr Iles that it was stolen. He then handed it over to the police.

With the stand back in its display cabinet, the museum's committee is hoping more of the loot could join it there.

"We didn't really expect to see any of it again so recovering this encourages us that we might find other bits," said Mr Iles.

"I'll carry on hunting and the police will try and track where it came from."

Items still outstanding include ten school attendance medals, ten First World War medals, an eight inch bust of Jenny Lind and a collection of Morgan Motor Company memorabilia.

Police spokesman Kim Stain said the force had started a new line of enquiry as a result of the find.

Although the museum estimates it is worth between only £50 and £100, the stand has a strong, and possibly unique, Malvern connection.

Made by Gwynn and Sons, the former drapers and undertakers which was based in what is now W H Smith on Belle Vue Terrace, it commemorated Queen Victo-ria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.

An inscription on the back of the stand says, "there is little doubt they were parts of the old cloisters of the (Malvern) priory which were taken down after the dissolution of the Monastery".