A plastic cover has been put over Banksy's latest work in London to protect it from damage.
The graffiti artist's new image - on the side of a Poundland in Whymark Avenue, near Turnpike Lane - depicts a young boy crouched over a sewing machine making Jubilee street party bunting in a sweatshop.
The painting could be worth thousands of pounds. In the past, graffiti by the elusive artist has caused house prices to skyrocket. In 2008, a Portobello Road wall adorned with his name fetched £200,000 on eBay.
But it seems no chances are being taken with this new work, which appeared on Monday and has excited local residents.
Yesterday in Melbourne, Australia, a worker destroyed a piece of Banksy artwork - The Parachuting Rat' - by drilling a hole right through it in order to install a pipe in a wall.
Vandals have also damaged his work in the past and council workers, also in Melbourne, accidentally painted over another piece in 2010.
Locals who live near his latest London work have given it the thumbs up.
Saqib Khalid, 16, said: “It’s inspiring to see graffiti on the streets of London which is actually good art and not vandalism.”
James Longshaw, 42, said: “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.”
