The original of a Norman Rockwell painting found behind a fake wall has fetched a record $15.4m (£7.9m).

Breaking Home Ties by the US artist was first sold to cartoonist Donald Trachte in 1960 for $900 when the two were neighbours in Vermont.

But Mr Trachte made a replica of the painting and hid the genuine piece in a cavity in his studio.

The original was discovered by Mr Trachte’s sons after he died last year and sold at Sotheby’s in New York.

In April, David and Donald Trachte Jnr noticed a strange gap in the wall of a room in their late father’s house.

They gave it a shove and the wall slid open to reveal the real Rockwell along with other paintings.

Posted: 12|1|06 at 11:46 am. Filed under: US News.