German police appeal for information after 17th century paintings found in skip

An art expert believes the paintings are by Dutch artist Samuel van Hoogstraten and Italian Pietro Bellotti

German police have appealed for information from the public after two 17th century paintings were discovered in a skip at a highway rest stop.

Police said a 64-year-old man found the oil paintings at the rest stop near Ohrenbach in central Germany last month. He later handed them in to police in the western city of Cologne.