Banksy artwork left at model village in Norfolk could be moved to a museum and replaced by a replica over fears it could be stolen

A Banksy artwork left at a model village in Norfolk could be moved to a museum and replaced by a replica over fears it could be stolen.

Frank Newsome, who owns Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has been moving the miniature building to a 'safe location' every night.

He is now considering taking the original off-site completely, potentially housing it in a museum and putting a replica in its place.

The small stable popped up at the attraction on August 6 and features the words 'Go Big Or Go Home' scrawled across the side.

It came amid a string of new street art pieces which appeared across Suffolk and Norfolk as part of the elusive artist's 'Great British Spraycation' last week.

But one piece showing a rat sitting on a deckchair with a cocktail has already been defaced - less than 48 hours after it was confirmed to be Banksy's work.

The small stable (pictured above) appeared at Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on August 6 and features the words 'Go Big Or Go Home' scrawled across the side

It came amid a string of new street art pieces which popped up across Suffolk and Norfolk as part of the elusive artist's 'Great British Spraycation' last week

Mr Newsome told the BBC: 'Either we might be forced to take it off-site because of the cost of security and having it transported to and from a safe location nightly, whereas a replica - that could be there forever.

'Some people will be disappointed that it's not the Banksy, but it's as close as you're going to get to a Banksy.'

He added: 'We are looking at a few alternatives - one of those is possibly site it in a museum where it can be on public show, but we've got to think long and hard and make the correct decision both for ourselves and the model.' 

The owner also said that it has been a 'bit manic' at the model village since the artwork's appearance, with a '50 per cent increase in footfall'.

Currently, he is not considering selling the artwork and wants to leave it on display for as long as possible, but admits it is a 'balancing act'. 

Professor Paul Gough, principal and vice chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth, said model-making students could create a replica or the piece, which he described as a 'gift with conditions'. 

Frank Newsome (pictured above), who owns the attraction, has been moving the miniature building to a 'safe location' every night

He also revealed that Banksy's team have contacted Mr Newsome, expressing their wish for the artwork to be kept on display for as long as possible.

The anonymous artist, believed to be from Bristol, was seen working on eight pieces in a video entitled 'A Great British Spraycation' which was uploaded to his Instagram account on Friday. 

The three-minute clip shows Banksy driving around in a camper van while donning a hoodie as he works on the new pieces, inspired by the summer of so-called 'staycations', which has seen Brits opt to holiday at home owing to strict Covid restrictions on foreign travel. 

In the video, shared with his 10.9million followers, residents can be seen reacting to the artworks, seemingly unaware that they were created by the iconic artist. Upon seeing one image of a child holding what appears to be a crowbar next to a sandcastle, a woman says: 'That looks like mindless vandalism, doesn't it?'

At the end of the video a woman comments on one of the pieces: 'It looks a lot better from far away than it does when you get this close.'

Among the new works are a rat sitting on a deckchair with a cocktail under an umbrella, which has now been covered with white paint by vandals.

Other works include a grabbing machine situated above a bench in Gorleston and one of a seagull on the side of a building stealing 'chips' from a skip in Lowestoft.

One piece in Cromer shows a gang of feisty hermit crabs.

One piece showing a rat sitting on a deckchair with a cocktail has already been defaced - less than 48 hours after it was confirmed to be Banksy's work 

Banksy uploaded the video to his Instagram account on Friday, confirming he was behind eight new works (pictured: grabbing machine artwork situated above a bench)

'Mindless vandalism': One woman's verdict of this Banksy piece, showing a child with a crowbar, spray-painted on a wall behind a sandcastle 

Another, in Nicholas Everitt Park, shows three children standing in a boat which appears to have been fashioned out of a piece of scrap metal.

He also worked on a statue in King's Lynn, putting an ice cream in its hand while making a tongue appear from its mouth.

The artist confirmed another work spotted on a wall outside the former Lowestoft Electrical shop on London Road North, which appears to show a child holding a crowbar next to a sandcastle. 

He also depicted a musician playing an instrument above a bus stop in Great Yarmouth, while two people dance beside him.

Some locals suspect the new Spraycation series could have been Banksy's way of helping the areas secure their City of Culture bids.

It comes after the councils of the Great Yarmouth borough and East Suffolk submitted a joint proposal in July to become the 2025 UK City of Culture.