SIR Tom Finney appearing alongside a man who lived nearly a hundred years ago - a case for Mulder and Scully?

No, this rare phenomenon has a simple explanation.

It's the work of an army of artists who have invaded St George's Centre, to paint the famous soccer legend on a mural next to Richard Arkwright, inventor of the water frame creator.

The mural, a celebration of Preston's famous folk, is on a stretch of hoardings in Friargate Walk.

The mammoth project, carried out by members of The Exhibition Society (North West), includes a design by local man Michael Hipkins and is to give the centre a brighter look while renovation work is carried out.

The artists involved in the project include Nick Bleasdale (pictured), who painted a previous mural in the centre depicting St George and the dragon, and Chris Knapman (pictured), who has painted similar pictures in Rolling Stones band member Bill Wyman's Sticky Fingers restaurant in Manchester.

Co-ordinator Fraser Gardiner said: "We didn't get as much space as we had hoped but we think we've done a very good job anyway, and it should remain on display for quite a while."

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