Lovejoy episode helps antiques dealer identify stolen Napoleon III artefacts

Repeat of BBC series gave clue to Paul Gostelow about 19th-century altar cards taken from crypt in Hampshire

Two priceless artefacts stolen more than a decade ago from the crypt of Napoleon III in England have been recovered after an antiques dealer realised he had them while watching a repeat of the comedy drama Lovejoy.

The wooden 19th-century altar cards were taken in a burglary at St Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, Hampshire in February 2014 and were feared lost for ever.