Bristol artist Banksy's painting "stolen" and put up for sale

A PAINTING by Banksy could sell for up to £450,000 after it was mysteriously removed from a shop wall and put on an auction website.

Slave Labour (Bunting Boy) was stolen one night last week from Poundland in Wood Green, North London.

The Sun newspaper has reported that the Bristol artist's mural — which shows a young boy hunched over a sewing machine making Union Jack bunting — then appeared on the US-based Fine Art Auctions Miami site. It has a guide price of £250,000 but could sell for much more than that.

Website owner Frederic Thut told The Sun it was being sold by a "well-known collector" but would not name the person.

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He said he was offered it along with Banksy's Wet Dog Bethlehem 2007, adding: "The collector signed a contract saying everything was above board."If he has lied to us it is important to know. But I don't think he lies to us."

The collector is not British and the piece is believed to be in storage in Europe. It is due to go up for auction on Saturday — but furious locals from Wood Green are demanding it back.

Cllr Alan Strickland told The Sun: "Banksy gave our community that painting for free. Someone has taken it and plans to make a huge amount for themselves, which is disgusting and counter to the spirit in which it was given. No doubt, Banksy will be horrified."

See the original artwork on Banksy's website