A stolen bust of Auguste Rodin, sculpted by his lover, Camille Claudel, has been recovered 13 years after it was stolen from a museum in central France.

The 17.6lb, 23 inch treasure was stolen from the Guéret art and archaeology museum in 1999.

Looking grizzled with a furrowed brow and full beard, the rare, signed bronze portrait of the French sculptor - a precious remnant of his passionate romance with Claudel - is reportedly worth up to one million euros (£800,000).

French detectives were surprised to find it inside the truck of an antique seller who had been under surveillance for weeks.