Banksy replies to fake arrest story with new graffiti work in Bristol

Street artist Banksy has painted new graffiti in Bristol, confirming that yesterday’s news that he was identified and arrested was a hoax.

His latest work is a parody of Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer and was posted on his official website on Tuesday.

However, a few hours later the graffiti was vandalised, with black painting splattered on the wall.

London's Metropolitan Police denied his arrest after a 24-hour Anti-Graffiti Task Force operation.

Meanwhile, the hoax went viral around social media, with his trending on Twitter.