Spanish woman who found fame for botching fresco restoration dies

The Spanish parishioner who made headlines around the world for her botched restoration of a prized Jesus Christ fresco has died aged 94.

Cecilia Giménez, an elderly woman from Borja, northeast Spain, became famous 13 years ago after she attempted to restore the century-old painting titled Ecce Homo that was held in her local church.

Giménez's restoration went viral and earned the nickname "Monkey Christ", because of Christ's head resembling a hairy monkey.

The impact of the restoration led to the "Monkey Christ" meme and saw the once quiet town of Borja quickly become a tourist destination.

The town, which had previously welcomed just 5,000 visitors per year, received more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and raised more than €50,000 for charity at the time.

Officials say nowadays between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists per year visit Borja to see the famous portrait, which is now behind a protective shield of glass.