A BRAND NEW Banksy mural has been ruined by jobsworth council workers who removed a key part of it.
The mural on the side of a building in Margate, Kent, Valentine's Day Mascara, showed a bruised 1950s housewife in an apron and washing-up gloves pushing a man into a freezer.
And the faceless artist confirmed it was the latest piece in his string of public artworks today – sharing a photo of the piece on his Instagram.
The art shows a bruised woman appearing to push a man into a freezer.
But just 24 hours after the artwork was noticed, jobsworth council workers have removed the freezer – ruining the mural.
Thanet District Council said: "We are aware that the graffiti artist known as Banksy has confirmed that the mural that has appeared recently in Margate is his.
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"The graffiti is situated on a wall of a privately owned property.
"A fridge freezer which is believed to have been part of the installation has been removed by council operatives on the grounds of safety as it was on public land.
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"The fridge freezer is now in storage and will be returned once it has been made safe to the public.
"We will be contacting the owner of the property to discuss the options to preserve the artwork for the district."
One council worker told a local "it's my job" when quizzed over why the freezer had been taken.
KentOnline reported that in video footage posted online, a man can be heard asking contractors: "You do know it's a Banksy, yeah?"
A contractor replies: "I'm fully aware of that and so's my boss, who's asked me to do this."
The man asks: "How do you feel having to do this?"
The contractor replies: "It's my job."
Banksy often turns his artwork into performance pieces – most notably the Love Hurts piece that self destructed after being sold at auction.
But the move has outraged locals who called the move "a disgrace".
Fuming Margate councillor Barry Lewis told Isle of Thanet News: “It’s a disgrace. This brought international acclaim to Margate and within hours Thanet council has destroyed a valuable asset to the town.
"The council leader should resign.”
Bystander Dan-Bambridge Higgins tweeted: "You can't get them to sort out any fly tipping but hilariously sad that the instant reaction to Banksy in Margate by Thanet Council is to remove it!"
Mark Delaney said: "Talk about Thanet Council shooting themselves in the foot. How petty."
ITV Meridian reporter Joe Coshan said: "Extraordinary scenes here in Margate – a removal team has been sent to remove the fly tipped fridge because of health and safety.
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"A gallery were sent by the house owner to protect it but they’ve arrived too late."
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