An expert investigator believes a £1 million art heist at a Sussex stately home was part of a nationwide series carried out by the same gang.

Dick Ellis, former head of the Scotland Yard art and antiques unit, has included the raid at Firle Place in July last year in a list of major crimes he believes were committed by the same criminals.

Firle Place, the home of millionaire landowner Viscount Gage, was targeted on July 19 last year.

Burglars stole 20 pieces including rare Sevres porcelain.

Police said at the time the pieces were worth £1m.

Mr Ellis estimated their value at £500,000, according a piece in The Art Newspaper.

Mr Ellis was reported as saying three gangs are responsible for up to 36 crimes, including 21 burglaries.

He said the response of police forces is weakened if crimes take place in different areas of the country.

Paul Hendry, author of crime blog Art Hostage, has criticised Sussex Police’s response to the burglary.

He claims police had been told Firle Place was the target of a previous, cancelled burglary attempt in January last year, but failed to act on the information.

When contacted by The Argus earlier this year Sussex Police refused to comment publicly.

A spokesman said: “We are not able to discuss whether or not specific prior intelligence has been received about any specific offence.”

Mr Hendry said the art underworld refers to the stolen porcelain as “volcanic ash” because it is “so hot it is radioactive”.

He is publicly calling on both police and the Firle Place burglars to arrange for the safe return of the porcelain.

He said: “I’m the only man in Europe who wants the volcanic ash to come back.

“The issue is to receive the Firle Place porcelain undamaged.

“The best way to achieve that is for an anonymous phonecall to Sussex Police for a location to be given where the police can attend and recover the porcelain intact and return it to its rightful home.”

Anyone with information should phone Sussex Police on 08456070999.