Security has been tightened at a York museum after thieves swiped historic items from its displays.

A pair of 19th-century ceramic candlestick figurines, worth £600, and ten china and earthenware mugs, worth £400, were snatched from the Castle Museum.

The theft has forced curators to put out of reach exhibits they like to leave on open display to give the museum a more authentic atmosphere.

Today they condemned the thieves for spoiling the fun of law-abiding visitors.

The stolen candlesticks, which are about 8in tall and are painted to look like bronze, were taken from a mantelpiece in the museum's Hearth Gallery, which shows historic fireplaces.

The mugs - six china and four earthenware - had been suspended from beams in the museum's Dales Kitchen display.

Since the theft other objects that could be at risk from thieves have been removed from displays.

Sarah Maultby, assistant curator, said: "It is a shame because it ruins some of the enjoyment for our visitors. A lot of those items have been on display for about 30 years.

"It is not really the value of the items that matters, it is the fact that we keep them for posterity and hundreds of thousands of people enjoy seeing them each year. They are now lost from our collection just because someone wanted them for themselves."

The museum plans to put the items back on display but with extra security measures. The museum is looking into fixing items to displays or attaching them to an alarm system.

Ms Maultby added: "So many things in museums are behind glass these days which is why we like to keep things on open display so people can get close to them. We don't want to lose the open display element. It is what we are known for."

She said small items, such as kettle lids, had occasionally been pinched from the museum in the past, but this was the first time so much had gone in one day.

Anyone with information about the theft, which happened on April 8, or anyone who knows the whereabouts of the item should call police in York on 01904 631321.

Updated: 08:34 Tuesday, May 01, 2001