Rescued Banksy painting fails to sell at auction

Anderson & Garland's Fred Wyrley-Birch said he was "very proud" to be able to offer Happy Choppers to the auction market

A rescued painting by the street artist Banksy failed to sell at auction on Wednesday.

Bidding for the Happy Choppers piece failed to reach its reserve price at Anderson & Garland, in Newcastle.

It had been expected to sell for between £500,000 and £800,000.

A spokesperson for the auction house said they expected to sell the painting in the coming days to a private seller.

The artwork, which depicts military helicopters adorned with pink bows, was rescued from the side of an office building after it had been painted over.

The anonymous vendor said he learned of the artwork by chance after purchasing the building.

It was one of 11 lots on sale at the auction.

A placard called Bomb Hugger by Bansky sold for £6,500

The other pieces by Banksy were sold by Emma Houghton, who was reportedly a friend and collaborator of the artist in the 1990s, as well as another private seller.

The works sold included birthday cards, anti-Iraq war placard signs and a hand-painted shop sign.

One birthday card sold for £29,900.

This birthday card by Banksy sold for nearly £30,000

The 10 lots sold for about £130,000 in total, an auction spokesperson said.

Anderson & Garland director Fred Wyrley-Birch said while failing to sell the Happy Choppers piece was not the result the house had "hoped for", they were "very proud to have been able to offer it to the market".