A concrete block that has been used for years in roadworks around Bristol has been taken back into a safe place by council chiefs - after a street art expert spotted what could be an original early Banksy on it.
The red and white block had been placed at the Temple Circus roadworks for the past year or so - it was weighing down a temporary traffic light - but on Friday, street art guide John Nation spotted a familiar, if faded, image on there.
how the concrete block had an image of Banksy’s famous Flower Thrower stencilled on.
It was covered up by contractors over the weekend, and removed by Bristol City Council, who the block belongs to, late on Tuesday evening.
Now, inquiries are beginning to establish if it is an original Banksy, from back in the days when he did spray small stencils on stuff around Bristol.
Most of his early work has been lost to time and the scrubbing brush, but if the work is genuine, the concrete block would instantly become the most valuable concrete block in Bristol.
It’s been removed to keep it safe, and from a road safety perspective - there were fears that Banksy-spotters may well wander into the roadworks to try to find the right red and white block among the dozens currently lining the roads around Temple Circus.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “Efforts have been made to try and establish whether or not the artwork in question is by Banksy.
“In the meantime, the concrete block in question has been removed from its previous location to ensure its presence causes no safety or traffic management issues in the area,” he added.
