article_snippet: A 4,000-year-old Egyptian statue which was sold by Northampton Borough Council for nearly £16million to an overseas buyer has been banned from leaving Britain.
article_snippet: Now culture minister has ordered a four-month export ban on the relic leaving the British Isles after Arts Council England ruled the sale breached standards for how museums manage museums collections.
article_snippet: a four-month export ban on the relic leaving the British Isles could even be extended to March 2016 if a ‘serious intention to raise funds to purchase the statue is made’, Arts Council England said.
article_snippet: A Northampton council spokesman said the export ban had ‘no impact’ on the sale and insisted the export ban was a matter for the government and Arts Council England to resolve between the government and Arts Council England.
highlights_snippet: Now culture minister has ordered four-month  ban on it leaving Britain .