Paintings worth more than £5,000 have been stolen from storage space at a Brighton art gallery.

Four paintings were discovered missing from the Quod Gallery in North Street.

One of the paintings is called Stripes and shows a woman in a stripy jumper sitting with her back to the viewer.

It is 42in by 30in and worth £2,200.

Another is called Visitor and is part of a group of six portraits. It is of a woman with blonde hair who is wearing a cream coat and is depicted side-on to the viewer.

It is 34in by 26in and is worth £2,000. Both of these paintings are by Simon Parish.

Staff are checking the identity of the other two paintings, each valued at £500.

PC Dee Wells said: "Undoubtedly the thieves will want to try to sell these paintings. If you are offered them or see them for sale, call the police."

Anyone with information can call PC Wells on 0845 6070999 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Police say anyone with information does not have to give their name and could be eligible for a cash reward.