New artwork removed in London Extended shot

A blank and depressing billboard in northwest London has sparked outrage after a new Banksy artwork depicting a reclining cat was removed just hours after it was unveiled.

The street artist posted a photo of the design on his Instagram account on Saturday without any comment, marking the sixth in a series of animal-themed artworks over the past week.

The new Banksy painting has appeared on Edgware Road in Cricklewood, with police blocking the road in front of the artwork while around 50 people gathered to take photos, before later watching it being removed.

This was followed by an artwork showing pelicans taking a fish from a chip shop sign, which appeared on Friday in Walthamstow, north-east London.

Hours after Banksy confirmed the design was his in an Instagram post, crowds gathered from across London to see the piece before men who said they were contractors arrived.

The billboard was scheduled to be removed on Monday before the artwork appeared.

One contractor, who gave his name as Mark, said the date was brought forward in case someone “teared down the building and left it unsafe.”

Mark said the artwork would be brought to their yard to see if anyone would collect it.

“We’ll store that piece,” he said. [the artwork] In our yard to see if anyone collects them, but if not they will be put in a container.

“I was told to keep him on guard in case he wanted to.”

A black board was first used to cover the majority of the cat on the billboard at the request of the police, who wanted to prevent people from walking into the road in front of traffic.

Removal efforts were briefly halted by police until officers ensured contractors had approval to remove the piece before allowing them to continue work.

An officer at the scene said the billboard’s owner told police he would donate it to an art gallery.

“If it hadn’t been guarded all night someone would have taken it. It’s a shame,” said Ben Tansley, 71, a member of the Northwest Two Residents Association.

“This is Cricklewood, this is our Banksy. You can’t even enjoy it for a whole day before someone tries to remove it,” added society president Carol Reiman, 64.

“You’ll have to wait a lifetime for a Banksy to come to our neighbourhood. Cricklewood is on the map.”

This image is one of many seen over the past week.

A painted image of cows appeared in Kew on Monday while a Bristol-based artist unveiled an image of two elephants touching trunks in Chelsea on Tuesday, although it was seen defaced with stripes on Friday.

Three monkeys hanging from a bridge in Brick Lane attracted crowds on Wednesday, while a wolf was spotted howling at a satellite dish in Peckham on Thursday.

When a picture of two pelicans appeared on a fish and chip shop sign in Walthamstow on Friday, one resident told BBC News: “It’s really exciting.”

“A friend texted me early this morning to say he had shown up on my street, so we agreed to come down as soon as possible.

“It’s so much fun and so much fun — that’s what’s really nice to see.”

I thought the location, Bonners Fish Bar, was important.

“It’s somewhat of a symbol of the area, so I’m sure that’s why he chose it,” she said.

“He’s been here a long time and was very well-liked.”

The wolf image, which was painted on a satellite dish in Rye Lane, Peckham, on Thursday, was removed from the top of a building within hours of being revealed.

A video was taken showing two people removing it and carrying it down the street.

Banksy’s press team told the BBC they “believe” the painting is stolen.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said it had received reports of the plate being stolen, and said “no arrests have been made” and “investigations are ongoing”.

Banksy’s press team declined to comment on the possible meaning behind the series of London murals.