Did Banksy visit Port Talbot? New artwork has everyone talking

A new mural that has mysteriously appeared in Wales has a local town speculating that world-famous street artist, Banksy may have paid a visit.

The artwork, which appears to comment on the town’s industrial heritage, appeared on two walls of a garage in Taibach area of Port Talbot overnight.

It shows a child with open arms playing in what appears to be snow, but the other side of the wall reveals it is ash from a rubbish bin on fire.

"It's amazing, an incredible addition to Port Talbot," said Rachel Honey-Jones, 33, who lives in The Mumbles on the other side of Swansea Bay.

"Everything about it is political messaging, the way the boy has been drawn, the positioning near the steelworks, the fact it was done just after the (Severn Bridge) tolls went down.

"If it's not Banksy then it's a very similar artist," she added.

The secretive street artists, who is believed to be based in Bristol, usually posts new work to his website or social media but the Port Talbot piece is yet to make an appearance.

Black dust from the town's steelworks covered houses, cars and pets in the area in July, a possible inspiration for the artwork.

Ms Honey-Jones said the artwork should be protected by the council because it will bring visitors, trade and tourism to the county.

A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Council said: "The Council is sending officers to liaise with the property holder to assist in protecting this artwork.

"However it must be remembered that the artwork is on private property and has not yet been confirmed that the artist is Banksy".