Police are still trying to locate a high-value gold toilet which was stolen from Blenheim Palace in the early hours of Saturday.

The 18-carat loo, worth around £4.8m, is an art piece called America and was kept at Blenheim Palace – Winston Churchill’s former home – in Oxfordshire.

Detective Inspector Jess Milne from Thames Valley Police said investigations are ongoing after the theft was reported to police at 4.57am on Saturday.

She said: “We are following a number of lines of enquiry and there will continue to be a police presence in and around the area of Blenheim Palace while our investigations continue.

“We are making every effort to locate the offenders and the toilet that was stolen.”

A 66-year-old man was arrested in connection with the burglary and remains in police custody.

The Italian conceptual artist behind the toilet praised the thieves as “great performers” and appeared to make light of the situation.

Maurizio Cattelan said in a statement: “When this morning I was informed about the robbery I thought it was a prank and it took me a while, after a few checks, to come to the conclusion that it was true and it wasn’t a surreal movie where instead of the jewels of the crown, the thieves went away with a b***** toilet.

“I always liked heist movies and finally I’m in one of them.”

The artist joked: “Dear thieves, please, if you are reading this, let me know how much you like the piece and how it feels to pee on gold.”

No injuries were reported and Blenheim Palace said it was co-operating with a police investigation.

The toilet was installed in Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of the former prime minister and war time leader, as part of Mr Cattelan’s first solo exhibition in 20 years.

Dominic Hare, chief executive of Blenheim Palace, said: “We are saddened by this extraordinary event, but also relieved no one was hurt.”

The golden toilet was previously on display at New York’s Guggenheim museum in 2016 where visitors could use it while a member of security staff stood guard outside.

It was also offered to US President Donald Trump – who upon moving into the White House installed golden curtains – by the museum.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting URN 273 (14/9), or make a report online, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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