Police have recovered three paintings stolen from the Magnani Rocca Museum near Parma, Italy, in a theft authorities described as among the country’s most significant recent art crimes. CCTV footage showed two masked thieves breaking into the museum on 22 March, and the recovery is important because the works were collectively valued at about €9m.

The recovered paintings were by Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse, with an estimated combined value of £7.8m. Police said they found the works during searches but released no further details, while the investigation continues.