Banksy says Union Jack stab vest worn by Stormzy at Glastonbury can stop a .45 calibre bullet

Elusive artist Banksy has claimed the Union Jack stab vest he designed for Stormzy’s Glastonbury headline act can stop a .45 calibre bullet - but is not machine washable.

The artist confirmed to his followers on Instagram in June that he was the person behind the vest, a political statement on knife crime and police cuts in the UK.

In his latest post on Wednesday to his 6.3 million followers he posted a picture said: “Who knew moving into gents tailoring could be this much fun?

"A vest that’s capable of stopping bullets up to .45 calibre. And yet it’s not machine washable.”

It accompanied a video of Stormzy, the first black British solo artist to headline the Pyramid stage, getting dressed in the vest and walking out on stage.

Stormzy is shown looking down at the vest before saying: "It's unfathomable. I need to get out there now."

He then says: "What was I gunna wear?"

He said on Twitter: "Absolutely f****** speechless."

Banksy wrote: “I made a customised stab-proof vest and thought – who could possibly wear this? Stormzy at Glastonbury.”