Police in Spain have returned two century-old charcoal drawings by renowned surrealist artist Salvador Dali to their rightful owners in Barcelona.

The artworks, worth around EUR 300,000 (GBP 266,000), were snatched from a flat in the upmarket Sarria-Sant Gervasi district in January last year.

The Mossos d’Esquadra – the Catalan police force – has now revealed that the drawings showing Catalan peasants and folk dances have been recovered.

In a series of related raids, they also seized five prints believed to be by Catalan painter Joan Miro.

They also recovered 55 watches, antique coins and banknotes, four long guns, and several other stolen items.

The raids were carried out in Granollers, Les Franqueses del Valles, and Berga, with police seizing three men aged 50, 53, and 55 in May last year.

Two others were also arrested for receiving stolen goods.

Police have linked the men to seven burglaries in upmarket areas across Barcelona Province.

They are currently released on bail and must abide by precautionary measures, while the two who allegedly received the stolen goods have been freed without charge.

Experts have since said the drawings were made by an 18-year-old Dali in 1922.

They were made, the experts said, to illustrate a book called ‘Les Gracies de l’Emporda’ (The Charms of the Emporda).

The Emporda is a natural and historical region of Catalonia where Dali himself hailed from.

Dali’s notable works include ‘The Persistence of Memory’, which is famous for its ‘melting clocks’.