Thieves threatened to kill girl, 2, as they stole Lowrys at knifepoint

An art dealer who knew LS Lowry from childhood was attacked and tied up by knife-wielding thieves who stole works by the artist worth more than £1.4m.

The raiders assaulted Ivan Aird, 41, at his home in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, on Thursday and threatened to kill his two-year-old daughter before making off with prized paintings, The Viaduct, valued at more than £700,000, The Tanker Entering the Tyne, worth up to £600,000, and treasured brushes and a pallete which belonged to Lowry.

Mr Aird knew Lowry through his father George, and the artist was a regular visitor at the family's home most weekends from the 1960s until his death in 1976. Mr Aird described yesterday how he was forced onto his knees, with his hands behind his back by robbers who threatened to kill his daughter Sabrina, who was in his wife's arms.

"The guys burst in through the door with a big knife," said Mr Aird. "They tied me up with cable ties and put me down on the floor. All they said was they were going to murder me. It was absolutely terrifying.

"I've been a lifelong fan of LS Lowry. My father bought paintings from him. They [the stolen paintings] are very well known. If these people try to sell the paintings on, they will be recognised so I am hoping we will get them back."

The theft reflects soaring demand for Lowry (1887-1976), one of the most collectable British artists. The value of his work has been increasing at between 20 and 25 per cent a year. Another Cheshire gallery owner lost a £115,000 Lowry oil last September when masked robbers armed with a cast-iron manhole cover broke into his gallery in the village of Hale. The gang heaved the cover out of a pavement a quarter of a mile away from the Clark Art Gallery and hurled it through the plate glass front window to secure access, having tried and failed to run a wooden plank through the gallery's windows.

Once inside, the thieves picked out 15 paintings. The Lowry oil was among three pieces by the Salford artist that were taken, along with Sit Terry Frost's Red Wedge, valued at £52,000.

Britain's art market is second only to the US and experts claim up to £200m worth of stolen art and antiques are sold each year. Interpol estimates that art theft is the fourth largest organised crime. However, Scotland Yard's arts and antique squad has been scaled down and has left the nation's heritage in peril, according to fine art insurers.

Also stolen in the latest raid were Pencil Sketch of The Surgery, valued at £38,000 and Pencil Line Drawing The Street Market, valued at £50,000.

Police yesterday released photographs of the stolen paintings and have also produced an e-fit of one of the offenders, described as white, in his 30s, with a round face and wearing a fluorescent jacket. Another is described as mixed race and the third was wearing a balaclava. All three spoke with local accents.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Reid, from Stockport CID, said: "This would appear to be a targeted attack by burglars who knew exactly what they were looking for."