Banksy artwork restored and protected with 'anti-graffiti solution' after vandalism

A Banksy artwork, part of his recent London animal series, has been restored and safeguarded with an "anti-graffiti solution" after it was vandalised.

The piece, located on the side of a house in Chelsea, south-west London, features two elephants peeking out from behind blocked-out windows. The artwork was defaced shortly after it was unveiled last month, with white stripes obscuring the trunk of one of the elephants.

Kensington and Chelsea Council acted swiftly to erase the graffiti and have applied a protective anti-graffiti coating that preserves the artwork's look.

READ MORE: HMRC says 'act now' as 671,000 people may have up to £2,212 in hidden savings

The elephants, which appeared on Edith Terrace in August, represent Banksy's second contribution to the Kensington and Chelsea borough, following another mural on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

Councillor Josh Rendall, of the Stanley ward, said: "We were delighted to discover Banksy had come back to Kensington and Chelsea to add another unique piece to our borough's rich cultural landscape. It was disappointing when it was painted over and we have been quick to return the elephants to their former glory by removing the unwanted paint, applying an anti-graffiti solution and cleaning up the surrounding area. We hope that residents and visitors enjoy this and our other Banksy piece on Portobello Road for many years to come."

The Bristol-based street artist began the animal-themed series in the capital on August 5 by unveiling a painting of a goat with rocks falling down below and a CCTV camera pointed at it on a building near Kew Bridge in south-west London. This was swiftly followed by the elephant silhouettes, and then an image of three monkeys that appeared to