Did Banksy paint Llanelli rat on charity shop wall?

Blink and you'll miss it... the rat was painted on a wall beneath a shop sign a decade ago, it is claimed

A sheet of protective plastic has been placed over graffiti showing a rat holding a cigarette as council officials determine if it could be a work by artist Banksy.

Llanelli mayor David Darkin has sent images to the art dealer who bought Banksy's design Season's Greetings, painted on a garage in Port Talbot.

"It's better to have it protected in case it is a Banksy," said the mayor.

The graffiti on a charity shop wall is said to have been painted a decade ago.

Essex-based gallery owner John Brandler, who paid a six-figure sum for the artwork in Port Talbot, said the Llanelli rat could be authentic and he planned to visit soon to judge for himself.

He based his opinion on the photographs he had seen, and the claim that the graffiti was said to be at least a decade old, which is when "Banksy rats" appeared in industrial towns.

"I'm happy to go with 50-50 for now that it's a Banksy," Mr Brandler said.

Llanelli artist and photographer Roz Moreton, 53, is more convinced. She said she recognised the work when she moved back to the area a decade ago.

"I studied in Bristol and lived in London and I've been exposed to a lot of Banksy including his rats on Westminster Bridge," she said.

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"So I knew right away when I saw the Llanelli rat. I didn't tell anybody because I wanted to be able to come back and see it."

Ms Moreton said she revealed her suspicions to the town council after hearing reports that vandals had tried to steal pieces from the Banksy in Port Talbot.

About 20,000 people are thought to have visited that artwork over Christmas.

Community leaders in Llanelli are hopeful their rat could also prove popular.

Mr Darkin said: "The hope is that if it is a Banksy it will bring much needed visitors to Llanelli and the town centre."

Councillor John Jenkins, who represents Llanelli Centre, said: "Fingers crossed it is a Banksy, but worst-case scenario it isn't and is still a talking point and people still come and see him."