A council's anti-graffiti team was left red-faced after removing a mural without realising it was the work of reclusive British street artist Banksy.
The piece was wiped from a seafront building in Clacton-on-Sea, where voters are shortly due to go to the polls for a by-election called after Tory MP Douglas Carswell defected to Ukip.
Banky's website features a picture of the artwork, which shows a group of pigeons holding up anti-immigration placards towards a more colourful migratory swallow.
A council spokesman said the authority had received reports of graffiti that was 'potentially offensive and racist' on Tuesday.
He continued: 'The site was inspected by staff who agreed that it could be seen as offensive and it was removed in line with our policy to remove this type of material within 48 hours.
'We would obviously welcome an appropriate Banksy original on any of our seafronts and would be delighted if he returned in the future.'
Photo: © www.banksy.co.uk
