A Lymington artist hopes to help the town’s 99p Stores solve a local planning dispute.

Norman Eason was sitting at his easel at the discount store painting impressions of the controversial shop front after impressing staff at the shop with his ideas.

Store bosses have been canvassing opinion on their frontage since they were instructed by New Forest District Council planners to pull down their controversial frontage after being told it was out of character in the Georgian high street.

But the council granted the store a reprieve after the company agreed to consult the public over the scheme, giving them until Monday, October 19, to pull down the sign.

Bosses say they have been inundated with “very impressive” ideas.

Norman, currently making a record of “Lymington in oils”, said should his entry win the £199 cash prize, he would donate it to the Basics Bank, a local charity that helps the homeless.

Graham Barnes, publicity officer for the store, said: “We have had a lot of entries along the lines of a shipping theme so we will be looking at this more closely.”