AN ANTIQUE weather forecasting instrument which was stolen by visitors from a York tourist attraction has now been valued at £150,000.

The ivory and brass-plated barometer – part of Fairfax House’s Noel Terry Collection of English Furniture and Clocks – was stolen from the York Civic Trust-owned museum, in Castlegate, on Monday, May 18.

It is thought that the couple captured on CCTV casually unscrewing the Daniel Quare instrument from the wall may have visited Kiplin Hall in Richmond, North Yorkshire, a week prior to the theft.

Detectives said the pair walked into the museum at about 2.45pm and soon after removed the weather monitor from the wall, with the man then hiding the three-foot long device under his coat.

North Yorkshire Police have issued a appeal nationwide for help in identifying the offenders as it is believed they could no longer be in the area.

The man is described as white, of slim build, aged in his early 30s, 5ft 9ins tall, with a dark complexion and dark curly hair. He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and trousers.

The woman is white, of slim build, in her early 20s, and of a similar height to the man. She has dark, wavy shoulder-length hair.

A “substantial” reward has been offered by Fairfax House’s insurers, Axa, for information leading to the barometer’s safe return.

A spokeswoman for Axa said: “It is our hope that by offering a reward, information will be provided which will lead the authorities to recover the barometer and for it to be put back on display in its rightful home.”

Anyone with information is urged to phone police on 0845 6060247.