Police appeal after Banksy vandalised on Lowestoft North Beach

Police are appealing for help after a Banksy mural was vandalised at the weekend.

Suffolk Police say the damage to the mural of a rat reclining in a deckchair on a wall at North Beach, Lowestoft, happened at some point between 5.35pm on Saturday 14 and just after midnight on Sunday August 15.

The mural was painted over with white paint.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who visited the mural after 5.30pm on the Saturday and who might be able to help establish a more accurate time for when the offence took place.

The vandalism provoked a storm of outrage and debate on social media.

A specialist team has been called in to see if the mural, which is one of four in the town, and part of Banksy's 'Great British Staycation', can be saved.

The mural had been lauded by East Suffolk Council as a visitor attraction.

Anyone who knows who was responsible or saw any suspicious activity in the Links Hill car park during the times stated should call Lowestoft police, quoting crime reference 37/44810/21.

Alternatively contact police through Suffolk Police website www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/existing-report-update or email Matthew.Fox@suffolk.police.uk

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