The battered bicycle that forms part of a Banksy artwork has been removed from where it was locked to a lamppost.
The bike – with only one wheel, which is buckled – was padlocked next to a mural of a girl hula-hooping with a bicycle tyre, together forming the artwork in Nottingham, central England.
Some locals at first thought the bicycle had been stolen but Nottingham City Council confirmed on Monday that it was removed by the owners of the wall upon which the mural is painted.
The local authority confirmed the bike was removed for safe-keeping.
Meanwhile, another bike has turned up in its place, installed by Kyle Myatt.
"I just did it to see people happier. Even if it's not been stolen, I'm still glad I replaced it as it looks like part of the Banksy," Mr Myatt said.
"And at least now if someone does nick it, the original is safe."
The mural was painted outside a beauty parlour in the city's Rothesay Avenue.
Banksy spent the summer creating new art, including images of rats on the London Underground encouraging passengers to wear masks, and financing a boat to rescue refugees trying to reach Europe from North Africa.
The girl with tyre mural attracted crowds of viewers when it was first completed in October.
Local resident Tracy Jayne said the image of the pedal bicycle was an important reference to the city's history and bike manufacturer, Raleigh.
"The artwork records an important part of Nottingham's history – Raleigh bikes," she said.
Nottingham City Council covered the design with plastic transparent sheeting, providing protection from vandals while still allowing it to be viewed.
“I feel like Banksy has given us a gift when we were at a low with increasing [Covid-19] infection rates,” said Louise Harrison, another resident.
Banksy's artwork is typically satirical and political in nature.
He started spray-painting trains in his home city of Bristol but as his work took off he travelled the world, painting streets, walls and bridges to deliver political messages.
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Three small rescue boats from the civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4, left, and the Louise Michel, right, a rescue boat funded by the British artist Banksy, off the coast of Libya on August 22, 2020. AFP -
The Louise Michel is a 31-metre motor yacht that was formerly owned by French customs authorities, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper. MV Louise Michel via Reuters -
Migrants pose for a photo after being rescued by the Louise Michel. MV Louise Michel via Reuters -
The vessel bears a Banksy artwork showing a girl in a life vest with a heart-shaped buoy. MV Louise Michel via Reuters
The cult artist, whose identity remains anonymous, recently weighed in on the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests.
Here is a gallery of some of his work.
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People take pictures of a new Banksy artwork in Islington, London, in March 2024. Getty Images -
A work by Banksy is removed in Peckham, south-east London, in December 2023. Getty Images -
Graffiti created by British artist Banksy under a protective screen on the damaged wall of a residential building in Irpin, Ukraine in April 2023. Getty Images -
An artwork painted on the side of a property in Herne Bay, Kent in March 2023. PA -
The artwork by street artist Banksy, titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on the side of a building in Margate, Kent in February 2023. PA -
A Reveller walks by a graffiti attributed to Banksy as he arrives at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the Glastonbury Festival in June 2022. Reuters -
A Banksy artwork in Nottingham in October 2020. Reuters -
Show me the Monet by Banksy at Sotheby's Galleries in London in October 2020. AFP -
Banksy's Sunflowers From Petrol Station, inspired by Vincent van Gogh. PA -
Banksy captioned the photo of this work Game Changer. Photo: Instagram -
A customised stab-proof vest by street artist Banksy at the Design Museum in London. EPA -
A Banksy stencil posted on Instagram in June 2020, with a caption asking 'What should we do with the empty plinth in the middle of Bristol?' Photo: Instagram -
A Banksy piece inspired by the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests. Photo: Instagram -
Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, in Bristol. Getty -
Banksy released a new piece in his bathroom as he worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Photo: Instagram -
A Valentine's Day piece by Banksy appeared in Bristol in February 2020. Reuters -
A Christmas mural by Banksy in Birmingham, December 2019. The piece made a statement about homelessness. Reuters -
Banksy's pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product in Croydon, London in 2019. AFP -
A view of Banksy's migrant child mural, half-submerged in high water in Venice, November 2019. EPA -
Devolved Parliament at Sotheby's auction house in London, featuring chimpanzees as MPs in the House of Commons. EPA -
A Banksy artwork in Marble Arch, London, at the site of an Extinction Rebellion protest camp. EPA -
Love is in the Bin at the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany. EPA -
There is Always Hope. EPA -
Season's Greetings (2018) was painted on a garage in Port Talbot, Wales. Getty -
Part of the unauthorised exhibition entitled Banksy, Genius or Vandal? in Madrid, December 2018. EPA -
A piece by Banksy, acquired by actor Robin Williams, was among auction items on display in Los Angeles, September 2018. EPA -
A Brexit-inspired mural by Banksy in Dover, south-east England. EPA -
A veiled woman in mourning beside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris where 90 people where killed by terrorists in November 2015. EPA -
An artwork attributed to Banksy showing Napoleon's horse rearing, in Paris, June 2018. EPA -
A mural depicting a rat on a popped champagne cork, in Paris, June 2018. EPA -
A rat in the inner portion of a clock in New York City, March 2018. EPA -
A Banksy mural highlights the imprisonment of Turkish artist and journalist Zehra Dogan, on the Bowery, New York City in February 2019. EPA -
A Banksy painting appeared on the first day of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. EPA -
Flying Copper on display in Berlin. EPA -
The Bridge Farm Primary School where a new mural appeared during half term in Withchurch, England. The mural was a thanks to the school for naming a school wing after Banksy. EPA -
The Son of a Migrant from Syria depicting Apple's Steve Jobs in the refugee camp called The Jungle in Calais, France. EPA -
Dismaland, a temporary exhibition that opened at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-Super-Mare, England in 2015. Getty -
Bomb Hugger after it was defaced in Hamburg, February 2015. EPA -
Banksy appeared to comment on methods used by Britain's intelligence services with this piece in Cheltenham. EPA -
The Twin Towers in Tribeca appeared in New York in 2013. EPA -
A mural by Banksy in Queens, New York. EPA -
Three years after Hurricane Katrina wrought havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, Banksy created some commemorative pieces in New Orleans, Louisiana. EPA -
Another mural by Banksy in New Orleans. EPA -
A Banksy in London, May 2008. EPA -
A piece to mark Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee appeared on Clink Street, near London Bridge, in May 2002. EPA
