The home front: Woman stripping wallpaper finds incredible mural of a naval battle scene from early WWII that's been hidden on her wall for decades

 A woman stripping wallpaper was astonished to find an incredible Second World War mural hidden for decades.

Natalie Mansfield, 30, was renovating her study in Bispham, Blackpool when she came across the hand-painted image.The 8ft x 6ft mural depicts a naval battle, with two types of fighter planes buzzing around an aircraft carrier. It also shows dive bombers arcing down towards the water and dropping bombs on suspected enemy targets, while munitions explode in the sea below.

Miss Mansfield claimed that the image could date back to 1935, several years before the outbreak of the world war but during a period of mounting tension in Europe amid German aggression.

But historians dispute this and believe that it could portray military action in the Mediterranean during the global conflict, pointing to the clear weather and markings on the German dive bomber.

‘I was only planning on replacing the wallpaper in one section as it was peeling – but as I realised there was a painting underneath, I had to do the whole wall,’ Miss Mansfield said.

A British homeowner was astonished to find an incredible Second World War mural hidden behind old wallpaper 

Natalie Mansfield was renovating her study in Bispham, Blackpool when she came across the hand-painted image

The 8ft x 6ft mural depicts two types of fighter planes buzzing around an aircraft carrier 

It also shows dive bombers arcing down towards the water and dropping bombs on suspected enemy targets, while munitions explode in the sea below them 

‘I think the colours in it are lovely and it’s been nice to wonder about its history and who might have painted it.

‘It's had a great reaction on social media and people have shared lots of ideas for how to preserve it in one way or another.’

She added: ‘It seems to go round on to other walls too but has been painted over at some point as I can only just make out some of the outlines of other images

‘I moved in earlier this month and wanted to decorate the room to be used as an office. I’ve not decided on what to do next; whether to restore/preserve it or to decorate as planned.’ 

Miss Mansfield posted the images to Facebook, where it has received more than 800 likes and dozens of comments.

Sabina Taylor was full of praise for the mural, saying: ‘Absolutely amazing could not paint over that totally amazing wow wow wow.’

Leighanna Ashford added: ‘Those colours already used in the mural are so in vogue atm [at the moment].

Miss Mansfield posted the images to Facebook, where it has received more than 800 likes and dozens of comments 

Miss Mansfield claimed that the image could date back to 1935. But historians dispute this and believe that it could portray military action in the Mediterranean during the global conflict 

‘It could be ace to keep it and add some wood panelling to the other walls. A bit of fate here? What a fantastic find!’.

While admirer Carly Dewett said: ‘I’d love this on my bedroom wall.’

Others speculated about the history and provenance of the painting. Tim Hazeltine said: ‘At first, the presence of biplanes and Spitfire-type aircraft seemed a bit odd.

‘However, the RAF did employ the Gloster Gladiator, a biplane during WWII.

‘The mix of aircraft is rounded out by an aircraft carrier and one of its escort destroyers. These would have been components of a World War II carrier battle group.’

Ian Horrocks agreed, saying: ‘It is WW2 you can see the Markings on the German Dive Bomber.

‘I will make a guess that it depicts action in the Mediterranean as the weather looks good, twin engine German Dive Bombers were used (flying from Italy) and British Aircraft carriers were deployed there.’