A BEER has been launched to celebrate the restoration of a Roman wall painting.

The Malton Goddess has been painstakingly restored in laboratories at the University of Durham.

Now completed, it has gone on display at Malton Museum.

It is believed that the artwork adorned the walls of a house in the town about 1,600 years ago.

The painting shows a female figure with a halo surrounding her head.

To acknowledge the restoration of the painting, brewers Suddaby's Ltd has launched Malton Goddess, a 4.8 per cent alcohol deep golden bitter.

To reflect its historic connections, the brewer has infused the drink with honey, a practice popular with Roman drinkers.

The Malton Goddess painting was found in a building in the town between 1949 and 1952.

Five Roman kilns were found in the next house, raising the possibility that the building had connections with the brewing industry.