Officers were called to rural Weston-under-Penyard, Herefordshire, to reports of a break-in at the property on Monday.

They homeowner had reported the Nanteos Cup missing – a mediaeval chalice rumoured to be the Holy Grail with magical healing powers.

Legend has it that the simple wooden chalice was carried over to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea, years after the crucifixion of Christ.

The search for the mythical artefact was the plot for the 1989 blockbuster Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, starring Harrison Ford.

But now West Mercia Police officers have been tasked with finding the wooden bowl themselves.

A spokesman said: "The home was broken into between 9.30am on July 7 and 9.30am on 14 July. A wooden cup/challis, known as the Nanteos Cup, has been reported as stolen from the home.

"It is dark wood cup and was kept in a blue velvet bag. Anyone with any information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident number 146s of July 14."

The Holy Grail has been a issue debate amongst historians and theologians – with some religious figures claiming the grail is actually the Holy Chalice, used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper.

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The Nanteos Cup was featured on Channel 5 documentary The Search for the Holy Grail: The True Story, in which it was examined by the Commissioner for Monuments in Wales.

He concluded it was made from Wych Elm wood, typical of a medieval bowl and was actually at least 500-years-old, making it at least 1,400 years after the crucifixion.

The cup has a long held reputation for healing, with people drinking from it in the hope of curing their illnesses.

Call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.