Armed robbers have stolen several dozen artefacts from Greece's Ancient Olympia Museum, which houses one of the most important collections of ancient Greek antiquities, police and reports said.

Two robbers wearing hoods broke into the museum around 7.30am (5.30am GMT) on Friday before tying up the one female employee on duty at the time, reports from Greece said. The robbers then used hammers to smash display cases, taking away between 60 and 70 items.

"According to the results of the investigation so far, unknown persons, this morning, at about 07:34 am, immobilised the guard of the museum and removed bronze and clay objects from the displays, as well as a gold ring," a police statement said. Police set up roadblocks around the museum.

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