LONDON — A council in southern England says it instructed its workers to remove a mural before realizing it was the work of internationally famous graffiti artist Banksy.
The mural, which featured a group of pigeons carrying anti-immigration banners, appeared at Clacton-on-Sea, the site of a special election next week featuring the anti-immigration U.K. Independence Party.
Tendring Council spokesman Nigel Brown says the mural was chemically removed after complaints it was racist.
The mural, featured on Banksy's website, showed pigeons holding up signs directed at one exotic-looking bird. One banner reads "Go Back to Africa" while another says "Migrants not welcome."
Brown said Thursday that "there was a sharp intake of breath when we realized it was a Banksy," but said workers were simply acting on concerns that it was inappropriate.