A COUNTRY-WIDE search of antique dealers in on after a grandma's collection of valuable furniture was stolen in an 'organised' raid.

Police believe the burglars knew that 85-year-old May Astley was on holiday and that she had the rare pieces, in her home in Darwen.

The most expensive item, an Italian cupboard worth £10,000 to £20,000 and standing over two metres tall, would have needed a removal van to be transported. Nine other items were taken.

Antique dealers across the country have now been given descriptions of the items as the police and Mrs Astley's family desperately try to trace the pieces.

Ruth Graf, Mrs Astley's daughter, said they were keen to find the collection as it was very valuable, both financially and sentimentally. The family have put up a four-figure reward for the return of the items.

Mrs Astley started the collection when she was 18. She had stopped collecting in recent years and was preparing to move to live near Ruth in Kent.

It was while visiting Ruth on a month-long holiday that her home was broken into.

Ruth said: "Someone knew what they were looking for. Ten articles were stolen, but the one that really stands out is an Italian cupboard. It has an unusual silver finish on it and an ivory engraving. It looks quite gothic and is not something you would want in your living room. But it is worth between £10,000 and £20,000. "

She said her mum's luck had gone from bad to worse as she had recently hurt herself in a fall, and was recovering in Burnley General Hospital.

"She is more concerned about her health at the moment than the cupboard," she said, "but nobody likes anything being taken."

Detective Constable Graeme Simpson, of Darwen CID, said: "The premises seem to have been specifically targeted for the furniture.

" We have given a description to dealers in Lancashire, but we have also put information in a couple of national antique magazines to make dealers nationwide aware of it."

Anyone with information can call Darwen CID on 01254 353 842 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.