Stargazing children: New Banksy unveiled in London in time for Christmas

The world’s most famous and elusive street artist Banksy has confirmed that he is responsible for a new mural that appeared in London yesterday.

Painted above a garage and depicting two stargazing children lying down and in winter gear, the artwork appeared on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London.

Banksy posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account.

An identical image also appeared at the foot of the Centre Point tower in Tottenham Court Road, central London, but the graffiti artist did not post that version on his account.

Banksy’s work is often politically charged, satirical and critical of government policy. However, the latest artwork did not seem to carry an overt political message – although some have suggested that it addresses the topic of child homelessness.

In September, the artist made headlines with a mural showing a judge armed with a gavel looming over an unarmed protester with a blood-splattered placard. That piece, which appeared on an external wall of a Royal Courts of Justice building, came at a time when protesters were being arrested for backing Palestine Action – an organisation banned by the government as a terrorist group.

It was swiftly covered up, with authorities saying it had to be removed out of consideration of the building's historical significance.