Tut, tut... Britons try to fly home with Egypt relics

A British couple were stopped by police as they tried to leave Egypt with vases, statues and several coins all dating back more than 2,000 years.

In total 19 ancient pieces were seized from the unnamed husband and wife as they tried to board a flight at Luxor in the south of the country.

Each year tens of thousands of tourists visit the area to see the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens burial sites.

Police said the couple were held after the woman damaged three of the artefacts as an argument broke out with officials.

The couple insisted that they had brought the items as souvenirs and gifts for friends but an Interior Ministry official said they would be reported to prosecutors while the matter was being investigated. It was not immediately clear if the couple had been freed or were still in Egypt.