Police forces across Europe have been alerted after a bronze bust of the artist LS Lowry was stolen from a Greater Manchester hotel.

The artwork was taken from the five-star hotel which bears his name in Salford.

He sat for it in 1975 and it is believed to be worth £8,500.

Security at the hotel has now been stepped up.

Lowry posed for the sculpture in 1975

Some art critics believe the sculpture captures the essence of the artist - famous for his matchstick men and northern industrial landscapes.

The heavy bronze bust, by Ruth Roland, was stolen despite being fixed in a granite base in a prominent position in the hotel.

Security guards thought it had been taken away for cleaning at first.

But an international alert was triggered after the hotel managers realised thieves had struck.