Detectives raided the home of a suspected burglar - and found a haul of Chinese Ming vases on the kitchen table.

Now they desperately want to link up the valuable ornate collection with its rightful owner.

Officers raided a house on the Braithwaite estate in Keighley and were stunned when they found the collection of 20 to 30 bowls, troughs and vases.

The haul included a cockatoo on a stand and one had sea shells on the side.

All were of an ornate Ming style with Chinese writing on the bottom.

Detective Constable Tony Nutton, of Keighley CID, said: "I have never seen anything like them in my life. The whole lot was on a kitchen table, no doubt waiting to be moved on somewhere. But we managed to spoil the party.

"This collection must be someone's pride and joy. But we've been down the usual avenues and so far haven't located the owner. It probably belonged to an elderly person. They may be in a residential home now, but it's so unusual I am sure their family would recognise the vases."

Det Con Nutton said the collection was probably around 100 years old and could be worth at least £2,000 to £3,000.

He added: "For whatever reason, the vases have not been reported lost or stolen.

"But they are going to be of great sentimental value to somebody and we would like to marry them up with their owner.

"They are one-foot-tall and have stoppers on the top and are full of cobwebs.

"They are not contemporary, you wouldn't see them in any shop nowadays."

Anyone who thinks they know the owner should contact Det Con Nutton at Keighley CID on (01535) 617025.