Art lovers flocking to see Banksy painting

Art lovers are descending on the seaside town of Folkestone after a mural by street artist Banksy appeared on a wall.

The piece, called Art Buff, depicts an older woman staring at an empty plinth while wearing headphones with her hands clasped behind her back.

Clear plastic sheeting has been placed over the artwork by Banksy, who is renowned internationally for his stencil-style "guerrilla" art in public spaces.

The local authority, Shepway District Council, said it was working with the owner of the building to ensure it remains undamaged.

Visitors to Banksy's website are greeted with pictures of the wall before and after the artwork appeared at Payers Park.

As users click through the three pictures featured, they are faced with the words Part Of The Folkestone Triennial. Kind Of at the bottom of the last image.

The triennial is a two-month long showcase of art in the resort, which has attracted the likes of Yoko Ono, widow of the late Beatle John Lennon.

The event gained headlines at this year's launch when Berlin-based artist Michael Sailstorfer sparked a stampede when he hid 30 bars of 24-carat gold, worth £10,000, on Folkestone beach.

The emergence overnight of an original Banksy artwork is another publicity coup for organisers of the event, which runs until November 2.

Shepway councillor Jenny Hollingbee said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for the people of Folkestone to see a Banksy original.

"It is another reason to be proud of Folkestone."