Sex Shop Love Rat, by Daniel Silk on Apr 8, 2008 15:27:32 GMT 1, www.theargus.co.uk/news/generalnews/display.var.2179536.0.sex_shop_welcomes_love_rat_graffiti.php

Sex shop welcomes 'love rat' graffiti

Mysterious Banksy-like graffiti has appeared inside a high street sex shop.

The picture of a rat painting a heart, which the internationally renowned artist has previously depicted, was sprayed on to the wall of Lust in Gardner Street, Brighton, on Saturday.

The shop has had a copy of the famous artwork in its window since Valentine's Day.

An unknown spray-painter entered the store on Saturday and managed to graffiti the same image on the wall and leave unnoticed.

Owner Tim Richardson said a spray can was found next to the drawing.

He said: "We put a copy up of the "love rat" for Valentine's Day and have kept it up since.

"Late Saturday afternoon, I had a phone call from my manager asking if I had seen the rat on the top floor.

"We have looked through the hard drive at the CCTV but there are so many people in on a Saturday. We are going to keep it but we don't know what to do with the spray can.

"It looks very much like a Banksy."

Banksy, who conceals his real identity, is thought to be 33-year-old Robert Banks from Bristol.

He made his mark on Brighton with an image on the side of the Prince Albert pub in Frederick Place of two policemen kissing.

The picture was given a protective covering after vandals defaced it last year.