London, Jan 2 : Police have arrested a man who is allegedly involved in the theft of an artwork by Impressionist artist Edgar Degas.

According to a judicial official, "an employee of the museum, a night watchman" was taken into custody from Marseilles.

A security guard noticed that the artwork titled Les Choristes (The Chorus) - on loan from the Musee d''Orsay in Paris - was missing from the city''s Cantini Museum on December 31.

The painting is a colourful depiction of a group of male singers performing on stage, France''s national museum service valued the pastel artwork at 710,000 pounds, reports BBC News.

Public prosecutor Jacques Dallest said there were no signs of a break-in.

It was a part of an exhibition featuring some 20 works by the 19th century artist. (ANI)