Woman who ruined Spanish fresco 'had permission' from priest

A woman who ruined a 19th Century fresco in a Spanish church by trying to restore it, has said the priest knew what she was up to.

Cecilia Gimenez, who is in her 80s, was reportedly upset at the way the fresco had deteriorated.

When she realised she was out of her depth she contacted Juan Maria Ojeda, the city councillor in charge of cultural affairs.

BBC Europe correspondent Christian Fraser says the delicate brush strokes of Elias Garcia Martinez have been buried under a haphazard splattering of paint.

The once-dignified portrait now resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic, he says.