An iconic picture of The Railway Children by the late Stanbury artist Ken Jackson is to be sold at auction.

The oil painting shows the stars of the 1970s film mingling with villagers at the top of Main Street in Haworth.

Several residents of the time can be identified due to the detail of Mr Jackson’s artwork.

Mr Jackson, who died in 2007 at the age of 76, visited the film set to capture the image.

The painting was bought for £1,400 several years ago by a local man, who wishes to remain anonymous.

He said that until the picture turned up at a Stockport sale its whereabouts had been unknown for many years.

He said many of the 850 prints of the painting were owned by local people, including some of those in the picture. Mr Jackson painted the likes of the late former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, composer Eric Fenby and university chancellors and professors.

In 1987 he was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix International, at the annual international exhibition of the Pastel Societies, in France.

Shipley-born Mr Jackson also inspired others to paint and move into careers of their own, including teaching classes in Haworth and Cononley.

He studied at the Royal College of Art, in London, and moved with wife Rosemary to Stanbury in 1960.

The auction will be at Hartley’s in Ilkley on April 4.