A £25,000 reward has been offered after more than half-a-million-pounds worth of antiques were stolen from a Worcestershire lay-by.

The valuable hoard of paintings and furniture was in a lorry stolen from outside a Kidderminster pub.

Police say the driver had stopped off after reaching his tachograph quota of hours and was resting nearby when the articulated lorry, pulling a sealed container unit was taken.

The £600,000 stack of imported antiques included 24 paintings - including Adoration of the Magi by Joos de Beer, Turner's Breaking Cover and Bouquet des Fleurs by Henri Fantin-Latour.

Numerous items of furniture were also stacked in the trailer, which had been left parked near the Viaduct pub.

A Steinway grand piano, an American tall case clock and porcelain figures were among the haul. The goods were stolen between 3pm and 11.30pm on Sunday, October 29.

"The driver had left the lorry parked in a layby and was staying elsewhere when the vehicle was stolen," said Det Insp David Jones, of Kidderminster police.

He would not reveal the lorry's destination or the identity of the antiques' owner.

"The owner is a UK resident who has offered a £25,000 reward to any person whose information would lead to the recovery of the goods and the identification of whoever is responsible," said Det Insp Jones.

The police were "keeping an open mind" about whether a specialist gang had tracked the vehicle. Drivers of sealed containers did not usually know the contents of their loads, said Det Insp Jones.

Staff at the Viaduct, in Chester Road, had not witnessed anyone tampering with the vehicle. Hauliers often park in the lay-by.

The police have only just disclosed the details of the theft, following consultations with the auctioneers Christie's.

The stolen vehicle was a Seddon Atkinson, registration S2 WHL. The tractor unit was discovered near Wolverhampton, but the blue trailer and orange container have not yet been recovered.

Anyone with information can call Det Insp David Jones on 01562 820888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.