£1MILLION CLOCK MISSING IN MANSION BURGLARY

Feb 4 2006

PROPERTY tycoon Harry Hyams lost a £1million clock in Britain's biggest house raid, it emerged yesterday.

The antique, believed to be late 17th century and English-made, is understood to be the most valuable single item in the burglars' £30million haul.

Reclusive Hyams, who was away from Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire, when it was raided on Wednesday, is "devastated".

The 76-year-old multimillionaire has spent more than 50 years building his antiques collection.

A police source said: "He is very passionate and knowledgeable about his collection. The items are irreplaceable and he's worried about their safety."

A police spokesman said: "We are working with staff to catalogue all the items and working with other police forces and ports to ensure the goods are not taken out of the country."

Detectives are investigating the possibility that the burglars are professional thieves responsible for a string of major raids.

Roland Arkell, of Antiques Trade Gazette, said a £500,000 Thomas Tompion clock which police confirmed was missing was the "king of table clocks".

He added: "There may well have been another clock worth £1million, although that hasn't yet been confirmed.

"Mr Hyams had seriously good gear. These items are at the top of the antiques tree."

Hyams, who built the controversial Centre Point tower block in London's West End, is believed to have a £320million fortune.