Botched Spanish 'restoration' is a tourist boom worth thousands

The botched restoration of a fresco of Christ by an elderly Spanish churchgoer that drew ridicule from around the world has become a major tourist attraction.

The touched-up painting by 81-year-old Cecilia Gimenez has drawn more than 40,000 visitors and raised more than €50,000 for a local charity in Borja, a town of 5,000 in north-eastern Spain.

Mrs Gimenez and a local council are to sign a deal sharing profits from merchandise featuring the image. She has also had her own art exhibited.

The fresco depicts Christ with a crown of thorns in a style known as “Ecce Homo” (Behold the Man). Amid last year’s mocking, some dubbed it “Ecce Mono” - Behold the Monkey.

Officials say it is not possible to restore the painting’s original look.