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ART ATTACK

Graffiti fans furious after famous Banksy ‘Spy Booth’ mural reduced to rubble by builders

'Spy Booth' was removed from the Grade II listed house it was painted on by a man using a power drill on Saturday

ART fans have been left fuming after an iconic mural by street artist Banksy was torn down.

'Spy Booth' was removed from the Grade II listed house it was painted on by a man using a power drill on Saturday.

A blank wall now stands where the iconic picture used to as the building is renovated
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A blank wall now stands where the iconic picture used to as the building is renovatedCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
The wall used to have three spies surrounding a telephone box in Cheltenham which appeared shortly after the Edward Snowden revalations
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The wall used to have three spies surrounding a telephone box in Cheltenham which appeared shortly after the Edward Snowden revalationsCredit: PA:Press Association

It is believed to have been taken down so urgent works can take place to stop the shabby building falling further into disrepair.

The famous artwork popped up in April 2014 after revelations of global surveillance by intelligence agencies by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The mural showed three 'spooks' dressed in trench coats and sunglasses, snooping on a telephone box with listening devices.

Passers-by stared at the scene in Cheltenham, Glos., - located around three miles from GCHQ - on Saturday in disbelief as the mural was removed.

The fate of the mural - which is protected by law after council planners agreed to grant it retrospective planning permission - is not yet known.

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Furious Banksy fans took to social media to vent their shock and anger at the situation.

LaToya Howe wrote: "Can't believe it's gone! Only in Gloucestershire do we destroy such an important piece of art work, it's horrendous."

Richard Knight suggested: "What a disgrace could have been protected by a big thick sheet of toughened glass."

Ade Lautieri added: "It's vandalism."

The artwork has previously been targeted by vandals with spray cans
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The artwork has previously been targeted by vandals with spray cansCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
The Grade II listed building is currently having work done to it to prevent it falling further into disrepair
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The Grade II listed building is currently having work done to it to prevent it falling further into disrepairCredit: PA:Press Association

The artwork has been regularly targeted by vandals of late and urgent work began at the house in June, five months after it was put up for sale at £210,00.

Speaking at the time, Mike Redman, director of environment at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: ''The owner is carrying out works to his property in accordance with the 'urgent works notice' issued by the council to stop further deterioration of the Listed Building, make it weatherproof and secure the safety of the public by removing the risk of falling render.''

 


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