Rare £66,000 cello taken in burglary

Burglars stole a 250-yearold cello worth £66,000 from a home in north London.

The rare 1752 Carcassi was among instruments valued at almost £100,000 which were stolen from the home in North Finchley. It is suspected the thieves knew the family were professional musicians.

Pal Banda, 45, performs on the Carcassi instrument in the Allegri Quartet, which is famous for its classical and romantic chamber repertoire.

He and his wife, viola player Susie Meszaros, 44, discovered their loss when they returned on Friday from performing at a summer school in Devon. Among the instruments taken were a cello and violin belonging to the couple's children, another £14,000 cello and Ms Meszaros's 1759 viola. She said: "This is a crime against culture, music and art."