Kids, hope you like my picture... love Banksy

RETURNING from their half-term break, these primary school pupils probably thought a vandal had daubed graffiti over their classroom wall.

They were confronted by a 6ft drawing of a girl pushing a flaming tyre with a stick, and a hurriedly sprayed flower and house in the background.

Normally this would have prompted a swift clean-up operation. But then the care- taker at Bridge Farm Primary School in Bristol found a note for the children and the identity of the ‘culprit’ was revealed: The elusive celebrity street artist Banksy. This was confirmed by his signature (pictured inset) at the foot of the wall.

He wrote that he wanted to say thank you to them after they named one of their houses after him because he is a famous son of the city. In his note, the artist encouraged the children to add to his mural – even if it gets them into trouble.

He wrote: ‘Dear Bridge Farm School. Thanks for your letter and naming a house after me. Please have a picture.

‘If you don’t like it feel free to add stuff, I’m sure the teachers won’t mind. Remember – it’s always easier to get forgiveness than permis- sion. Much love Banksy.’ Critics said the artwork could be a typically nihilistic take by the artist on hoop rolling, a popular children’s game in the Victorian era and beyond.

Headmaster Geoff Mason, whose school was rated outstanding by Ofsted in 2013, said: ‘We are very thrilled about it. I’m sure it will inspire the children.

‘The staff had to make quite a few calls this morning to make sure nobody cleaned it off.’