One of the world’s most recognisable paintings, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, has been stolen at gunpoint from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.

Two armed robbers entered the art gallery shortly after it opened on 22 August and stole The Scream, said to be worth £30m and another Munch masterpiece, Madonna, which has been valued at £8m.

Both paintings are seen as “destination” pieces of art, attracting visitors from around the world.

The Scream was due to travel to Australia next month, although it is thought that the thieves might have been unaware of the planned tour.

The Munch Museum is located in the Tøyen district in Oslo and remained closed today (23 August) to allow a forensic investigation of the scene. Details: www.munch.museum.no