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A council has been slammed for wasting money on a King Charles mural that bears an “awful” resemblance and looks more “like a Spitting Image puppet”.

The brightly coloured artwork features the King and his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

It was commissioned by Northampton Town Council and erected on hoardings in the town centre to mark the beginning of His Majesty’s reign.

However, after its unveiling, residents were quick to ridicule the graffiti, which cost almost £2,000, in particular the likeness of the new King.

One local believed he looked more like a Spitting Image puppet; another said it appeared he had “been on the Scotch,” while a third thought both portraits would “scare kids.”

Neighbour Kerry Bellingham, 33, who lives nearby, said: “There’s no doubt the area needed a bit of colour but I fear it’s made us a bit of a laughing stock.

“The one of the Queen isn’t too bad but I’ve seen people having selfies with the Charles one while laughing their heads off.

“It just doesn’t look like him. The eyes are weirdly too close together, his hair is all wrong and it’s only the ears which really tells you it is him.

“I think the money could have been spent much better elsewhere in the town. I’m not anti-Royal by a long shot but its just an awful resemblance of our King.”

Another local said: “Let’s be honest it’s not the best painting in the world.

“I don’t agree with the money spent on it, I think there are better things to spend money on at a time like this.

“It’s also on a plank of wood which is deteriorating, if they were going to do it, they should’ve done it well and put it somewhere more permanent.”

Other residents took to social media where one web user said it was hard to tell who the person painted next to the late Queen even was.

Anthony Mackintosh said on Facebook: “Fair play to the hard work put in, but without the Queen, nobody would know who Charles was.”

Tina Crawford said: “King Charles looks more like his spitting image puppet I’m afraid.”

Harvey Ward joked: “Looks like Charlie’s been on the Scotch.”

And Mark Jacques fumed: “What a waste of taxpayer’s money.

“There are plenty of other things that money could have used for to help people out.”

Another person said it was “disgusting” that the taxpayer had had to contribute towards a mural that looked nothing like the royals.

Midsummer Butler said: “Disgusting amount paid for this.

“They are certainly not portraits because they look nothing like the late Queen or the King. More like caricatures.”

Charles Overblack added: “These portraits will scare the kids.”

The mural cost £1,720 to create and was funded by Northampton Town Councillor Nazim Choudary, through a Councillor Community Fund.

It was designed by two artists called Liam Freeman and Mez White of Spraycatz to commemorate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and look ahead to the future King.

Councillor Jane Birch said: “The accession of King Charles III starts a new chapter of our monarchy and the Town Council thought it fitting to mark such an historical occasion with a visual tribute, in the form of this mural, to our past and future monarchs.”

The county’s representative of the King, Lord Lieutenant Mr James Saunders Watson Esq said: “I am delighted that the Town Council have commissioned this mural to the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III.”

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