TIMES may be tough, but Teignmouth councillors believe that paying thousands of pounds for an old painting was a real snip.

They sent town clerk Dave Tickell to an auction to try to snap up a rare Luny seascape of the town, and it was knocked down to him for a 'bargain' £3,100 – several hundred pounds less than budgeted.

The acquisition was revealed at a town council meeting on Tuesday, and most members vigorously defended the outlay on the little 15ins by 8ins picture (left), depicting a scene looking down from the hills – from where Maudlin Drive is today – towards the sea and estuary, by one of Teignmouth's most famous sons. It was authorised in private at a previous committee meeting.