Lauren Hemp mural put up in Norfolk town of North Walsham

The Manchester City star, who helped England win the Women's Euros last summer, was born in North Walsham and first played for the local team.

Her face now adorns the wall of the town's Cafe Kitale, after the owner came up with the idea while on a long drive across Europe driving aid to Ukraine.

The Lauren Hemp was unveiled in North Walsham over the weekend (Image: Robert Scammell)

Robert Scammel said: "The mural came about as a bit of a chance conversation between me and my friend while we were on our way to give aid in Ukraine.

"It was a long drive and we were talking about Lauren, and we thought it would be great if there was a mural for her in her hometown.

"It turns out my friend's cousin  is an artist called Mr Meana and we got in contact with him to see if we could make it happen."

Mr Meana started work on the mural of the footballer on Friday and completed it over the weekend through wind, rain and snow.

The artist is no stranger to working on a large scale and has completed murals across the country.

He was even commissioned to paint a mural on the bedroom wall of the son of former Liverpool and England player Steven Gerrard.

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Mr Meana said: "I have lots of family in North Walsham and it's nice to be able to come back and do something for a place that has a lot of memories for me.

"It's so great to see the buzz it's created around the mural, I've had an amazing response from people in North Walsham and it couldn't be happening for a nicer girl."

People in North Walsham were pleased with the mural which has created a 'buzz' in the town (Image: Supplied by Lauren Hemp)

As a youngster, Hemp played for North Walsham Town FC before being picked up by Norwich City's academy programme at nine years old.

She later went to Bristol City and then Manchester City.

She returned to visit North Walsham last year, following England's triumph in the European Championships.

"She's a great inspiration for the kids and when she came to visit North Walsham last year the town was packed with people," Mr Scammel said.

Lauren Hemp's parents outside the mural in North Walsham (Image: Robert Scammell)

Lauren's parents visited the mural this weekend and sent a photo to her.

She replied it was "awesome" to see the artwork in her hometown.