Banksy’s new mural destroyed by vandals hours after he confirmed it’s genuine

Getting a visit from Banksy should be source of buzz and excitement for any town – that is unless vandals ruin the fun.

The elusive street artist recently paid a visit to Lowestoft, leaving behind a painting of a rat sitting on a deckchair, much to the delight of local residents.

But people in the Suffolk town awoke on Sunday to the news that the new attraction had been daubed with white paint.

In a statement, East Suffolk Council said: “We are naturally appalled that someone has chosen to behave in such a selfish and mindless way given how excited we all are by the appearance of these works here on the east coast.

“We are, however, hopeful that this particular work can be restored, and are engaging with specialists.”

One woman sets about cleaning the defaced piece PA

The council said that prior to the rat art being confirmed as a genuine Banksy it had placed an order for protective materials to safeguard the piece.

It added: “In the interim, we have also employed security patrols to visit each site and on this occasion, our patrols actually interrupted the individual defacing this work and prevented any further damage occurring.

“We are very grateful for the huge goodwill of local people who are proud of these artworks, but we would kindly ask people not to try and repair the works themselves and to please leave this to professional restorers.”

On Friday, the Bristol-based artist claimed ownership of a series of new pieces of street art which appeared in both Suffold and Norfolk.

In a video posted to his Instagram account, Banksy could be seen working on the creations, dubbed A Great British Spraycation, while wearing a hoodie to cover his identity.

Among them are a grabbing machine situated above a bench, and one of a seagull on the side of a building, as well as the now defaced rat on a deckchair.

Another, in Nicholas Everitt Park, shows three children standing in a boat which appears to have been fashioned out of a piece of scrap metal.

It features one child looking ahead as though out to sea, another child behind looking over their shoulder, and a third child at the back of the boat appearing to be leaning over the side holding a bucket.

Writing above the artwork says: “We’re all in the same boat.”

The metal part of the artwork has since been removed, and pictures show a man in fluorescent overalls appearing to drag it way.

One of the Great British Spraycation pieces PA

He also worked on a statue in King’s Lynn, putting an ice cream in its hand while making a tongue appear from its mouth.

The artist confirmed another work spotted on a wall outside the former Lowestoft Electrical shop on London Road North, which appears to show a child next to a sandcastle.

A slab next to the sandcastle seems to have been raised from the pavement and is sitting out of place next to where it appears it should be.

He also depicted a musician playing an instrument above a bus stop, while two people dance beside him.

Banksy also wrote “Go Big Or Go Home” on the side of a small building in Merrivale Model Village.

The Merrivale Model Village was graced with a new piecePA

Earlier this year, Banksy raised more than £16 million for health projects with the auction of a painting offering an “image of hope”.

Game Changer appeared at Southampton Hospital during the first wave of the pandemic.

The anonymous graffiti artist auctioned the original canvas, with the reproduction of the work remaining in the hospital.

The painting fetched £16.7 million, which is a world auction record for the artist, according to Christie’s.