THE £1.5m Eric Gill art treasure is to be kept in safe storage while the courts determine where it should be housed.

Last week, Lancaster City Council secured an interim court order in Liverpool, stating that the unique, four-ton relief should remain in the possession of the authority until its fate is resolved.

The council want to see the sculpture restored and replaced in its original home, the Midland Hotel in Morecambe.

It was reported stolen from the hotel in September last year and remained missing until it was discovered in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, following an investigation by police and the National Crime Squad.

The art treasure has until now been kept in a police van at Lancaster police station while its fate was decided.

The discovery of the relief has thrown the sale of the famous art deco hotel into confusion and the hotel administrators have said that they could not guarantee its safety if it returned to its original site in the landmark building.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of the sculpture. They have been given police bail until September 6 when the Crown Prosecution Service will decide whether or not to press charges.

A spokesman for the City Council said: "For the time being, the council will store the relief on behalf of the police, while the police continue with their enquiries. The council can continue with its court action against the executors of Mr Whittingham to have the relief reinstated into the hotel.

"In the meantime the council are negotiating with the executors for the reinstatement of the relief."

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