AN OIL painting that was stolen from Weymouth library almost 20 years ago has finally been returned to its rightful owners – all thanks to the Dorset Echo.

The Canal at Chiswick by Robert Standish-Sweeney was on display at Weymouth library on long-term loan but was stolen during a burglary in 1992.

After the painting resurfaced for sale on eBay earlier this year, it was identified by Elizabeth Goodsell, the secretary of the Standish-Sweeney collection charitable trust.

The painting had been bought by a Lyndhurst man in good faith at a house auction in Bournemouth for £30.

Following a police investigation that led to the painting being seized, it has now been sold back to the Standish-Sweeney collection charitable trust for £30 by the man who bought it.

Mrs Goodsell, of Radipole Park Drive, Weymouth, said the return of the painting was largely thanks to an article published in the Dorset Echo.

She said: “This has been going on for a long time but we’re absolutely delighted to now have the painting back – it’s the end of a saga.

“This was the only painting we ever had stolen so to get it back is wonderful.

“I really feel we couldn’t have done this without the confirmation that the painting had been stolen from the Dorset Echo’s original article.

“If the Echo hadn’t kept its archive so well-organised we wouldn’t have got this back.

“It’s part of a collection of 200 Standish-Sweeney paintings and it belongs in this area.

“I’m not angry about it – I’m keen to move on and getting the painting back was the most important thing.”

Mrs Goodsell, who was given the painting back by officers at Weymouth police station, added: “I’ve had a quick look at the painting and it’s got a small area of damage that needs to be repaired.

“Also the frame that it was originally hung in has long since disappeared, so it needs re-framing.

“Once that’s all sorted it can go back on display.

“The whole collection is supposed to be for the benefit of the public.”

She said the painting, once restored and re-framed, could be re-hung at Weymouth library or another local location where Standish-Sweeney paintings are on display, including the Weldmar hospice at Greenhill, Weymouth Community Hospital or Dorset County Hospital.

The painting was part of a collection that was insured for a total of £150,000 and was given to the library on long-term loan.

After resurfacing on eBay, the painting was on sale for £195 or for a starting bid of £95.

Guy Schwinge of Duke’s auctioneers in Dorchester said: “He is not a renowned artist but quite important locally. I would imagine the painting would be worth in the region of £1,000 now.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “The Canal at Chiswick painting was acquired in good faith by a Lyndhurst man, who agreed to sell the painting to the Standish-Sweeney collection charitable trust for £30, which is the amount that he originally paid for it.

“I understand that this deal went ahead and that the seized painting was released to the trust.”