Solid gold toilet stolen from Winston Churchill's birthplace

Thieves have stolen a solid gold toilet worth up to $1.8 million (£1M) from the birthplace of British wartime leader Winston Churchill.

The toilet, the work of Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, had been installed only two days earlier at Blenheim Palace, west of London, after previously being shown at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Police said the 18-carat gold toilet was taken early Saturday by thieves who used at least two vehicles.

"The force received a report of a burglary at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, at 4.57am today.

"The offenders broke into the palace overnight and left the scene at about 4.50am."

Because the golden toilet had been connected to the palace's plumbing system, police said its removal caused "significant damage and flooding" to the building, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A 66-year-old man was arrested, but the toilet has not been recovered.

The Palace was shut on Saturday morning "due to an unforeseen incident", although the park remained open.

"We are saddened by this extraordinary event, but also relieved no-one was hurt," Blenheim Palace said in a statement, shared on Twitter.

"It's therefore a great shame an item so precious has been taken, but we still have so many fascinating treasures in the Palace and the remaining items of the exhibition to share.

"The investigation continues, but it will be business as usual from tomorrow, so visitors can continue to come and experience all we have to offer.

Prior to the theft, visitors to the Cattelan exhibition could book a three-minute appointment to use the toilet.