Lowry's Yachts at Lytham St Anne's being auctioned

An oil painting by LS Lowry showing yachts on the Fylde coast is to be auctioned in London later.

Yachts at Lytham St Anne's is one of the highlights of the 20th Century British and Irish Art sale taking place at Bonhams, New Bond Street.

Painted in 1951, the peaceful scene of yachts bobbing on the water is in contrast to the industrial and crowded scenes that Lowry is famous for.

The painting is expected to sell for between £80,000 and £120,000.

A spokesman for Bonhams said the picture "conveys calm and tranquillity from the shore of the popular and traditional seaside town".

Lowry was born in Stretford, Manchester, in 1887.

Many of his drawings and paintings depict Salford and the surrounding areas where he lived and worked for over 40 years.

In 1953, he was appointed an official artist at the Queen's coronation.

He died in 1976 at the age of 88.