A painting the size of a double-decker bus, that was taken down 140 years ago because it was too big, has been returned to its rightful home.

The 27ft by 17ft painting of the Battle of Hastings has been returned to Battle Abbey, now a school, in East Sussex after over two years painstaking restoration.

It was commissioned around 1820 and created by Frank W Wilkin, an artist better known for his miniatures.

It was hung in Battle Abbey which is thought to have been built on the site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

You don't expect to see paintings of this size any more

Conservator Adrian Buckley

But it is believed that the Duke of Cleveland, the owner of the Battle Abbey estate, had it removed because he thought it was too big and blocked out light from a window.

It was found years later at a council maintenance depot and would have been destroyed but the curator of Hastings Museum insisted it was saved and had it stored beneath the museum's art gallery.

Its great size meant it had to be wrapped around a flagpole and conservators from English Heritage have spent over two years repairing years of water damage and restoring it to its former glory.

Nerve wracking

Conservator Adrian Buckley told the BBC restoring the painting had been nerve wracking because of the extent of damage and its size.

It is one of the country's largest paintings and some people have been shocked by its size.

Mr Buckley said: "It's the size of it that is so amazing and breath-taking. You don't expect to see paintings of this size any more."

The painting went back on display on Thursday, 140 years after it was taken down.

Although Battle Abbey is now a school the public will be allowed in to view the painting in the Great Hall.