More might have been executed to stop thefts on the British Museum, chairman George Osborne has admitted - as he vowed to "clear up the mess".

The former chancellor stated an estimated 2,000 gadgets have been stolen "over a long period of time", however added: "We have started to recover some of the stolen items, which is a silver lining to a dark cloud."

He apologised for the scandal, and admitted it had precipitated reputational harm to the establishment.

"On behalf of the British Museum, I want to apologise for what has happened," Mr Osborne instructed BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We imagine we have been the sufferer of thefts over a protracted time frame and, frankly, extra might have been executed to stop them.

"But I promise you this: it is a mess that we are going to clear up. I can tell you today that we've already started to recover some of the stolen items."

Mr Osborne was talking after the museum's director resigned within the wake of the scandal.

Hartwig Fischer stated the scenario is "of the utmost seriousness" and he has "sadly come to the conclusion" that his presence is "proving a distraction".

The museum stated final week that gadgets from its assortment have been "missing, stolen or damaged" and an unnamed employees member had been sacked.

Mr Osborne instructed the BBC: "I don't myself believe there was a sort of deliberate cover-up, although the review may find that to be the case.

"But was there some potential groupthink within the museum on the time, on the very prime of the museum, that simply could not imagine that an insider was stealing issues, could not imagine that one of many members of employees have been doing this? Yes, that is very attainable."