A new mural in the style of Banksy has cropped up in Great Yarmouth.

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The image has appeared on the corner of St Peter's Road and Standard Place and shows a child wearing a gas mask - a signature Banksy image - and cuddling a soft toy.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A new mural has appeared on the corner of Standard Place and St Peter's Road in Great Yarmouth.A new mural has appeared on the corner of Standard Place and St Peter's Road in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Liz Coates)

Derek Tennyson, who lives nearby, said he saw the work in progress on Friday (September 17) evening.

The artist, he said, was also wearing a gas mask by way of disguise, and took around five hours to complete the image while people strolled along the busy thoroughfare linking King Street to the seafront, apparently taking little notice.

He said he had no idea who it was but stood and watched for a while "just in case" it was Banksy, the anonymous artist having already publicly declared his was the hand behind a series of images and installations across Norfolk and east Suffolk last month.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The additions of local artist Emo have been removed by the councilThe additions of local artist Emo have been removed by the council (Image: Liz Coates)

The image bears the tag of Emo Raphiel Astoria, a well-known local artist whose additions to the Gorleston arcade-claw Banksy were announced as a "collaboration."

The logo of arts organisation Reprezent is also present on the corner building.

The artist tweeted on Sunday claiming responsibility for the work, saying: "This building was one of many damaged from the WW2 air raid in Great Yarmouth just off St Peters Road: Standard Place."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Eagle-eyed festival goers spotted a new mural during Great Yarmouth's Out There Festival. An eyewitness said he saw a man in a gas mask painting it on Friday night.Eagle-eyed festival goers spotted a new mural during Great Yarmouth's Out There Festival. An eyewitness said he saw a man in a gas mask painting it on Friday night. (Image: Liz Coates)

A passer-by who said he often worked in the area but had never seen it before said: "Maybe someone will chop off that bit of wall. It is very clever."

Among those spotting the image was Gareth Lewis of Norwich.

He was visiting the town over the weekend for the Out There Festival when he chanced upon it.

The semi-retired businessman who posts an image every day on Facebook as a hobby said he was always on the lookout for things to feature.

Although it had an Emo tag he said he still liked to think it could be Banksy as it was more in his style.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Great Yarmouth mixologist Gail Smith has created a Banksy cocktail to celebrate the artist's impact on the town, now home to four works as part of his 'Spraycation.'Great Yarmouth mixologist Gail Smith has created a Banksy cocktail to celebrate the artist's impact on the town, now home to four works as part of his 'Spraycation.' (Image: Gail Smith)

Banksy sparked a whirlwind of interest when a string of street art popped up overnight. The elusive artist finally declared he was behind the "Spraycation" on Instagram.

Since then Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it was commissioning artwork by two professional street artists in locations around the town and nearby Gorleston as part of an art trail that includes the four Banksy murals.