A MUM who bought a "cursed" portrait and claims her house almost burnt down says she doesn't feel guilty about flogging it for £1k.

Zoe Elliott-Brown, from Hastings, East Sussex, is desperate to rid herself of the supposed curse which is terrorising her family since bringing home the infamous portrait.

The 36-year-old carer said her life turned upside down after she bought the spooky painting from Hastings Advice Representation Centre (HARC)in July.

The picture, which shows a young girl wearing a red dress, has already been bought and returned by a previous owner who claimed it "ruined her life". 

Initially Zoe got home with the painting last month and left it in the living room.

But she claims the painting "transfixed" her mum Jayne Elliott-Brown, who admits she enjoyed stroking the cheek of the painting and would hear "knocking" noises at night.

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Zoe also says she and partner Ben saw a big black figure when a storm brewed up on a walk.

And she claims that their pet dog was also terrified of the cursed item.

Despite cleansing the picture with some sage, Zoe believes she still hasn't rid herself of the eerie curse.

Zoe has now vowed to get rid of the item and listed it for sale online after a major fire nearly broke out in her home.

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Zoe said: "My mum's internet router started smoking and blew up – it's quite new as well. There was a very nasty hot smell.

"We unplugged it and the router and wiring were too hot to touch.

"That just really freaked me out. If we hadn't been there like if that had happened a day or so later the whole place would've probably burnt down.

"It was just so lucky we were there. There's just this really strong smell of burning plastic now.

"Mum absolutely hates it [the painting] and wants it out the house. She's gone completely off it."

Now, Zoe says that the family cannot wait to see the portrait gone from their home.

She continued: "My mum was really skeptical and she's even 100 per cent convinced now.

"The dog still won't sleep in the house with it. I can't wait to see the back of it.

"Opening [the picture] up has definitely increased whatever's going on. The house nearly burning down was not ideal."

Zoe is determined to "get the item out of her life" as soon as possible and is selling the portrait on eBay to any bidder brave enough to take on the alleged curse.

The painting is expected to fetch more than £1,000 when the auction ends today – with funds split between HARC and Zoe – who said she feels "no guilt" over passing on the 'curse' to the next owner.

The artwork has already received 34 bids, with the current highest offer standing at £986.

Zoe said: "I wanted to sell it so it wasn't my problem anymore and I can be cleared of whatever's been following me around.

"People know what they're buying – it's in the ad. I'm not going to have a guilty conscience – I just want it out of my life. I've had it to the back teeth with this picture.

"I bloody well hope I'll rid myself of this curse when it sells. "I don't care who it goes to, I just want it gone. People know what they're signing up for.

"It just seems to continue creating havoc. As soon as it's gone the better. I thought it was a joke to start with and now it's really not, I want it gone."

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Zoe said she has already received interest in the painting from as far as the United States as well as offers to display the artwork in a ghost museum.

The portrait gained national – and international – attention last month after it was returned twice to a charity shop due to fears it was "possibly cursed".

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