A decommissioned handgun from the Second World War has been stolen from inside a museum's locked display case.

In a scene straight from the Pink Panther, audacious thieves swiped this Webley Mk IV police revolver - worth between £150 and £200 - from the case at Margate Museum.

It's thought to have been stolen from the Market Place museum site some time between 11am and 5pm on October 2.

PC Steve Hailey from Kent Police said: "As a decommissioned gun this revolver poses no risk to anyone, however we clearly want to see it returned to Margate Museum, where it formed part of an exhibition featuring memorabilia from the Second World War."

PC Hailey urged visitors to the museum who saw anyone acting suspiciously on Sunday to contact police.

He added: "I think it would have taken at least two people to break into the cabinet and steal the gun and I ask anyone with information about the theft or who has since seen the gun to phone Kent Police on 01622 690690 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime number EY/16202/11."