Going, going, gone....Banksy seagull mural departs Lowestoft

After the top half of the artwork - featuring a seagull swooping down to steal some polystyrene chips from a skip below - had taken flight last month, the main installation was removed in a late night operation on Monday, May 22.

Now, with the wall removed, a gaping hole in the side of a privately-owned block of flats on Katwijk Way in Lowestoft is all that remains after the artwork was taken to its new nest in an unknown location.

The scene on Tuesday morning after the Banksy artwork was removed.Picture: Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Lowestoft Central Project)

The artwork on the building at the corner of Denmark Road and Katwijk Way - which is in private ownership with East Suffolk Council having no control over its destiny - was created in August 2021 as part of Banksy's Great British Spraycation.

The building, with the lower section of the Banksy Seagull mural still intact ahead of removal. Picture: Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Lowestoft Central Project)

But, on Monday evening, the final section of the wall and mural was removed in a late night operation - as it was lifted from the side of the building by a crane and taken away on a large low loader lorry.

The building, with the lower section of the Banksy Seagull mural still intact ahead of removal. Picture: Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Lowestoft Central Project)

Security officers were at the scene as a small crowd gathered, while the two-hour operation was documented by a film crew who had access to the whole building to "record the occasion", according to an onlooker.

The lower section of the Banksy Seagull mural and wall being removed. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The artwork and large section of wall were lifted out of the building, before being re-positioned onto the flatbed low loader lorry at about 10.30pm and departing the town.

The onlooker said: "It was sad to see it go.

The lower section of the Banksy Seagull mural and wall being removed. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"This was a gift to the town, with it being a tourist attraction in such a prominent position so near to the railway station.

The lower section of the Banksy Seagull mural and wall being removed. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"Now it's not there, with just a big gap remaining where the wall and mural had been - it is sad for the town."

The lower section of the Banksy Seagull mural and wall being lifted onto the low loader lorry and taken away. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Last month prominent modern art dealer John Brandler described the removal of Banksy's seagull installation as a real shame for Lowestoft - admitting: "It has to be worth seven figures - between £1m to £3m."