London’s latest Banksy: graffiti artist’s new work on Poundland

On Monday a new Banksy print emerged overnight on the side of a Poundland in Whymark Avenue, near Turnpike Lane.

The graffiti artist’s new painting shows a young boy working in a sweatshop sewing street party bunting, presumably for the Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee.

The image could be worth thousands of pounds and a plastic cover has been put over the piece to protect it from damage. In the past, Banksy’s graffiti has caused an increase in house prices.  In 2008, a Portobello Road wall adorned with his name was sold for £200,000 on eBay.

Yesterday in Melbourne, Australia, builders destroyed a Banksy’s ‘Parachuting Rat’ while installing a pipe in a wall.

In the past, vandals have also damaged his artwork and council workers accidentally painted over a piece in 2010.

James Longshaw, 42, told the Evening Standard: “It’s a work of art, so of course I enjoy it. It will probably put house prices up in the area – that’s what has happened in areas where he has been before.

“I don’t see why anyone should object, all it means is the area has arrived. He isn’t attacking the area, he is attacking businesses in the area which exploit people in sweatshops.

“Banksy is promoting an issue by painting this but I don’t think a lot of people will know what it means – they might think it is just any graffiti.”