Valuable gold jewellery was snatched during a daylight raid on York Minster, police said this afternoon.

About 20 items, including Celtic-style earrings, pendants and chains, were grabbed from a display case at the Minster's gift shop while employees' backs were turned.

York police today declined to divulge the value of the jewellery, but said it was of "considerable value".

A youth was seen on CCTV cameras sprinting from the scene with the loot.

Local shops have been alerted to the thefts as police believe the thief, who was alone, may try to sell them on.

The snatch happened at 1pm yesterday.

While staff were busy in another part of the building, a man - believed to be in his late teens or early 20s - entered the gift shop.

"Staff had temporarily left the counter and the man leaned over the display cabinet and grabbed a tray containing the jewellery," said PC Shannon Newton, of York police.

The shop's manager saw the incident on the Minster's CCTV system, but the thief quickly disappeared into Deansgate.

The man is described as white, in his late teens or early 20s.

He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms, white trainers and a hooded sweatshirt which had a light coloured top half and dark bottom half.

He was carrying a white baseball cap.

Sgt Colin Ventress said officers would be studying CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the thief.

An image of the man wanted may then be circulated by the police.

Yesterday's theft is not the first time the Minster has been targeted by thieves.

A 19th Century silver chalice, used for Holy Communion and worth around £1,500, was stolen from the Zouche chapel in the Minster in November 1999. It was found in a bush nearby a month later by a student.

If you have any information about the theft, or have been offered similar Celtic-style jewellery, contact York police on 01904 631321, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.

Updated: 15:32 Tuesday, February 27, 2001