DOVER town councillors have been told they should be able to recover some of the silverware stolen from the Town Hall nearly 35 years ago, for less than the £80,000 being demanded by an American.

A representative from the Art Loss Register attended a council committee meeting to give advice on how the silver might be reclaimed.

The Art Loss Register is the world's largest database of stolen art and antiques and provides recovery and search services.

The silverware, belonging to the town and Cinque Ports, was stolen from Dover Town Hall in 1969. Some items have been recovered but two smaller punchbowls and ladles were traced to America where a man claimed he bought them in good faith soon after the burglary took place.

The man, identified only as a Mr Schuster living in Michigan, says the items, which were made by 18th and 19th century silversmith Paul Storr, are worth £80,000 and wants the council to reimburse him. He also points out that the council has received insurance money for them.

But the councillors have been told that negotiations should lead to the recovery of the silverware, without having to pay the price being demanded.

By publicising the existence of the items on the Art Loss Register, it will be virtually impossible for anyone to sell them legitimately.