THIEVES managed to smuggle two student artists’ paintings from an exhibition inside Worcester Cathedral.

Maureen Wright and Diane Freeman, both aged 69, said their hearts sank when they were told that their pictures had been lifted from the Gift of Colour exhibition.

Mrs Freeman’s daughter had visited the exhibition on Saturday morning and excitedly told her that she believed her river landscape had sold as it was missing from the display.

However, when Mrs Freeman called her art tutor Rebecca Newell to confirm it became clear the painting along with Mrs Wright’s acrylic on canvas had been taken.

Mrs Wright, from Tibb-erton, had just returned from holiday when she was told of the news: “I just felt absolutely gutted. It was the first big exhibition I had taken part in.

“It is hard to believe that such things happen anywhere but for them to be stolen from the Cathedral of all places is just awful.

“I would have rather given it away for free if someone had liked it but couldn’t afford to buy it rather than have them just take it.”

Students from Mrs Newell’s Origin Arts classes, which are based in Worces-ter, Droitwich and Lower Broadheath, began exhibiting their work last week.

It is thought the pictures were stolen at some point between Wednesday and Saturday morning.

The exhibition is due to run until Thursday but the Mrs Freeman and Mrs Wright have removed their other pictures as one of them is of particular sentimental value.

Mrs Wright’s painting was a 12” by 14” picture of the Canadian Rockies, priced at £70, while Mrs Freeman’s larger landscape painting was of a river, priced at £120.

Both were signed.

Their tutor Mrs Newell said: “I am devastated that their work has been taken because I know the enormous effort that went into creating them.

“Week after week they have been creating these paintings so after all that for something like this to happen, I’m just upset for them.

“To be honest they are beautiful paintings so whoever has taken them has obviously got brilliant taste.”

She said staff at Worcester Cathedral had been shocked at the theft and have promised to keep a close eye on the remainder of the pictures.

“I have exhibited at the cathedral both personally and with Origin Arts on several occasions and been thoroughly supported by them.

“The staff there are as devastated and shocked as I am, nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Mrs Newell has asked people to get in touch with police if they spot the pictures or have any information about the thefts.

Anyone with information should call the non-emergency police number 101 quoting reference number 343-s-130713.