BUILDERS renovating a Weymouth home have discovered a large painting believed to date back to the 19th century.

And home owner Lorraine Filmer, 42, reckons the mysterious mural could be linked to a haunting' at her Abbotsbury Road home.

The 5ft by 4ft painting - a sea scene featuring three ships and men wearing strange looking dress rowing a boat - emerged during renovation of a dining room.

Stuart Toakley, of A1 Vision Building Services, said: "We were stripping back the wallpaper. We'd taken about three layers off and we came across the outline of cloud.

"We took some more off and then there were three red galleons, a little boat and what appear to be little west Indians.

"I've never seen anything like it before. And it must be old because it's painted into the original lime plaster."

Ms Filmer said she was having the renovation work done following closure of her hairdressing business in April - Filmer's Hair Salon occupied half the property and the other half was residential.

The mother-of-six said: "It could well date back to when the house was built in 1881 when it was owned by a station master called John Palmer.

"I'd love to find out more about it and if possible have it touched up and keep it.

"I don't know whether any students at the college would be interested in doing something."

She continued: "I had some real problems with the house a few years ago.

"Lights and TVs coming on for no reason, the children were waking up crying for no reason, things going missing, feeling uncomfortable and once a figure appeared behind me. People in the salon saw it and we think it was the first owner.

"I got a medium in and she said he was quite bossy and authoritative. And he kept saying I should get the house renovated and tidied up."

And as soon as she does - a mural possibly dating back to Mr Palmer's era appears.

Ms Filmer added: "It could have something to do with the painting."

Anyone with any information about the painting can contact Ms Filmer on 01305 783758.