- Two of three "priceless" 19th-century altar plaques, stolen from Napoleon III's crypt at St Michael's Abbey in Farnborough in February 2014, have been recovered.
- Antiques dealer Paul Gostelow contacted Hampshire Constabulary after recognising a motif on the plaques from an episode of the BBC comedy-drama Lovejoy.
- The plaques, dating back to the Napoleonic era, were originally created by Empress Eugenie from handwritten prayers found on her son, Napoleon, after his death in the Zulu War.
- Hampshire Constabulary's heritage crime specialist, Pc Mark Webb, confirmed the items' authenticity with the International Stolen Arts Register before returning them to the abbey.
- While two plaques have been returned for restoration, efforts are ongoing to locate the third missing plaque, with several lines of inquiry being pursued.
IN FULL
Lovejoy episode helps antiques dealer spot plaques stolen from Napoleon III tomb
