A rare first edition copy of a Harry Potter book which was stolen from an art gallery in Woodstock has been found in Abingdon.

The edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, worth an estimated £6,000, was found in a plastic bag outside Boots, in Bury Street, by a member of the public on Monday and handed in at Abingdon police station. The book had been stolen from the Creative Art Gallery in Oxford Street on October 30.

Following the release of CCTV images of a man and woman wanted in connection with the theft, which were circulated earlier this week, Thames Valley Police said they received in the region of 20 calls from members of the public with information.

As a result, a 36-year-old woman from the Woodstock area was arrested on suspicion of theft today and is being held at Abingdon police station for questioning.

Enquiries are ongoing to locate the man in the CCTV images.

PC Geoffrey Allen, of Witney police station, said: “The response of the public has been phenomenal and information received has been of great help to our enquiry. The media must also be thanked for its role in circulating the CCTV images.

“I am delighted the book has been recovered. It is a limited edition with only 300 to 500 copies ever published. The book will be returned to its rightful owner in due course.

“Our investigation is continuing and we are doing all we can to locate the man pictured in the CCTV images.”

The book’s owner, Adrian Greenwood, a rare books dealer from Oxford, said: “I’m very happy to discover the book has been found and I want to wholeheartedly thank Thames Valley Police for all the work it has done, and is still doing, in connection with this investigation.”