 The painting has been valued at �30m |
Detectives have renewed an appeal for information about the theft of a Leonardo da Vinci painting from a castle exactly four years ago. Madonna with the Yarnwinder was stolen from Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill, in Dumfries and Galloway in 2003.
Detectives said they were still determined to find the painting, which belonged to the Duke of Buccleuch.
However, they admitted that they were no closer to catching the culprits, with no current lines of inquiry.
The artwork, which was painted between 1500 and 1510, had been in the Buccleuch family for almost 200 years.
Valued at about �30m, it depicts the Madonna with the infant Jesus holding a cross-shaped yarnwinder.
The painting was stolen in a raid involving four men. Two of them posed as visitors before overpowering a female staff member.
All four then made their escape in a white Volkswagen Golf, which was found abandoned nearby.
The painting was added to the FBI's list of the 10 most wanted pieces of stolen artwork in 2005.
A substantial award is available for information which leads to the recovery of the work.
Det Ch Insp Michael Dalgleish, of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, said: "Police in the region are still determined to recover the painting and bring those responsible for this crime to justice.
"However, we concede that there are currently no lines of investigation open to us.
"Consequently, we are renewing our appeal for information and are urging anybody who may have knowledge of the crime or whereabouts of the stolen painting to come forward."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
We concede that there are currently no lines of investigation open to us
Bookmark with:
What are these?