Locals furious after Banksy artwork ripped out of wall by ‘greedy’ property owner

A video shows a yellow telehandler tearing out part of the wall featuring the graffiti, which was protected with a screen and wooden boards.

Workmen then loaded the wall slab onto a truck, which took it to an undisclosed location.

It remains unclear whether the artwork will be sold at auction, though previous Banksy pieces have reeled in millions under the hammer.

Furious locals have blasted the proprietor for removing the artwork, which was one of 10 pieces made in Banksy's 'Great British Spraycation' project on the east coast of England.

On Facebook, resident Brandon Eames described the removal as "stupidity" and "disrespectful."

He wrote: "Now being shipped off to sell at public auction.. This is terrible. Why spend the money to protect it then just take it away..."

Fellow local Matthew Cook said: "Greed, lack of understanding, lack of respect.

"Remove a painted artwork all because who did it... its a joke tbh and should have been allowed. Sets a bad precedent."

Lynda Palmer added: "So so sad x perhaps he will come back and do another one 🤞. But somewhere it won't be taken away from."

The building, which previously hosted Lowestoft Electrical, saw its market value jump from £300,000 to £500,000 after the Banksy artwork appeared.