News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A clumsy American tourist is facing a hefty fine after accidentally snapping the finger off a priceless 600-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary at a museum in Italy.

A security guard reportedly spotted the unnamed man touching the marble statue while trying to measure its hand, but intervened too late and the digit broke off.

The statue is one of a number of 14th and 15th century works by medieval Florentine sculptor Giovanni d'Ambrogio on display at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral).

The tourist apologised for the accident but could still be slapped with a fine for the damage, according to local newspaper Firenze Today.

The damaged finger may be challenging or even impossible to repair as it is not the original but a recast, according to the museum director Timothy Verdun.

Criticising the tourist's careless behaviour, Mr Verdun, who is also from the US, said: “In a globalised world like ours, the fundamental rules for visiting a museum have been forgotten - that is to 'not touch the works'.”