ONE of the largest trompe-l'œils in the country has just been unveiled after being refreshed and updated.

The trompe-l'oeil was installed on the concrete wall of a building in Roundstone Street, Trowbridge, in October 2003.

The original work was carried out by artist Roger Smith and Wiltshire Steeplejacks and was painted to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Trowbridge Civic Society.

Now Trowbridge mayor, Cllr Graham Hill, has helped Trowbridge Civic Society chairman Cllr Glyn Bridges to unveil the refreshed trompe-l’oeil.

Trompe-l'œil is an artistic term for the highly realistic optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface.

The repainting – which cost around £2,500 - has been carried out by signwriters Andy Jackson and Marion Wright with help from Melksham Scaffolding.

The trompe-l’oeil features a doorway to a house, with figures seen behind the glass or leaning out of a window.

Cllr Bridges said: “It does trick quite a lot of people.

“We have got someone looking out of a window on the top left-hand side.

“In the bottom window we have an ‘I Love Trowbridge’ heart. We thought that was nice touch.”

Cllr Hill said: “It is brilliant. It is nice and it is colourful. A number of people have said they don’t realise that it’s a real building.”