A painter and decorator who uncovered a series of messages from two decades ago daubed on a wall in a Whitwick property - has been contacted by the people who drew it.

Gary Mulligan was removing wallpaper at the house when he discovered the drawings apparently made at a party in 2003.

The main message reads: Sarah and Katie's Cocktail Party, 16/08/03.

But when Gary posted the photo on Facebook, the person who wrote it responded.

Sarah Noon posted: "That's me and my sister!

"That really does bring back memories, thank you so much for posting."

Gary, who works under the company name of s G. M Decor, told Coalville Nub News this week: "I was just decorating one of the rooms in the house and started stripping the wallpaper.

"Then that appeared underneath. It looks to be dating back to 19 years ago.

"But then one of the girls - ladies now of course - got in touch on Facebook and said that was done just before their parents decorated the room.

"They may have been 18 or 21 on there, one of them says they're off to Australia, one's just got back to Cyprus, someone's off to university.

"Looked like a good get together.

"The reason for me putting it on Facebook was in the hope that one of the girls would recognise it.

"Sarah popped up first and started tagging people in on the post.

"It was quite a find, normally all you find is the previous decorator's name and when he did it.

"I've never really come across anything like that before. But at least people know it's there now.

"It brought back a lot of memories for someone, which was the intention."

But Gary admitted the party painting would not be visible for long.

He added: "It'll be covered up, but I put a sealer on it so it won't be disturbed.

"I'll paint it to the customer's colour but it'll always be under there."