Banksy designs T-shirts to support the accused in Colston statue toppling trial

The Instagram post said sales would be limited to one per person. Credit: Banksy

Banksy says he has designed T-shirts to support four people accused of toppling the Edward Colston statue in Bristol.

The defendants will go on trial on Monday charged with criminal damage after the 17th Century slave trader's statue was torn down in June 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest.

The bronze memorial was then dumped into Bristol Harbour and later recovered by Bristol City Council.

The artist posted on Instagram pictures of limited edition grey souvenir T-shirts which will go on sale from "various outlets" in the city on Saturday 11 December.

In the post Banksy said that proceeds from the T-shirts will go "to the defendants so they can go for a pint".

It also said sales would be limited to one per person and each T-shirt would cost £25 plus VAT.

Rhian Graham, 29, Jake Skuse, 36, Sage Willoughby, 21, and Milo Ponsford, 25 all pleaded not guilty in March.