A SPECIAL painting that once disappeared has returned to Herefordshire for people to see.

The director of the Museum of Cider in Hereford, Elizabeth Pimblett, joined in 2016 and was impressed by a Victorian oil painting in its collection - 'The Cider Mill' by Harry Zeigler.

But it had not been seen since 1991, when it had been stolen by an opportunistic visitor.

All the museum had was a framed photographic copy of it on her office wall, and an image on the computer which she decided to use as a screensaver.

But the museum had kept all the paperwork relating to its purchase, its theft, and their advertising with the Art Loss register.

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Ms Pimblett said: "It was a rare painting because of its subject matter.

"The museum trustees had bought it in 1984 with the help of a grant from the V&A and were hugely proud of it.

"When it was stolen, the staff tried so hard to find it and contacted lots of auction houses, but it had just disappeared."

She thought that as so much time had passed, the painting might well be put up for sale, but she signed up for online auction alerts about cider.

"This produced so many emails," she said.

"And most weren't really worth opening. But one day I saw one and felt compelled to look at it.

"My heart absolutely leapt into my throat when I saw our picture. I could so easily have missed it, and there it was."

The auction was in less than two weeks which meant the museum had to act quickly.

Once it was positively identified as the stolen painting, and with the paperwork to prove it, the picture returned to Herefordshire.

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Collections officer Elisha Mason signed it back into the accessions register, and trustee and conservator Catriona Ward did a comprehensive condition report.

Ms Pimblett said: "We were overjoyed. We don't know where it has been in the 31 years, or how many people have had it, but it does now need some conservation work done on it.

"The museum security was upgraded because of that early theft, and wherever we put it now, it will be protected for everyone to enjoy.

"Our sincere thanks to the police forces involved in helping to end this 31-year-old art cold-case."

The painting will be on display from Saturday, May 21, until it is sent to be conserved.