Hopes a portrait could be worth tens of thousands of pounds have been dashed.

An art expert from Sotheby's examined the painting left to Worthing Museum in a will and concluded it was Victorian.

Museum staff had thought it might be a Reynolds or a Van Dyck and worth a fortune.

They sent details to the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Gallery in the hope they could identify the portrait as a long-lost Old Master.

But while the galleries pondered on whether it is by a famous artist or not, an expert from auction house Sotheby's said the frame was Victorian and it was highly likely the painting was as well.

Emma Ball, assistant curator of the museum, said she wasn't disappointed - it could still be worth thousands.