Copycat Banksy caught on camera painting mural just hours before real artist completed his animal trail

A COPYCAT Banksy was filmed painting an ostrich mural — just hours before the real artist completed his animal trail.

The mystery man casually sprayed three birds on the side of an old Post Office.

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Some locals believed it was Banksy , who has left animal-themed graffiti over the capital since August 5.

His final piece emerged yesterday on shutters at London Zoo, with a gorilla seemingly bending the metal to free creatures.

In a cryptic twist, a key at the scene of the ostrich mural in ­Romford, East London , had the word “zoo” on it.

Amid speculation, Banksy’s team yesterday insisted it was not him.

But residents noted two of the birds had their heads in the sand, a common Banksy theme.

Martin McCafferty, from Havering, suggested it may be a commentary on the Post Office IT scandal, adding: “It feels very Banksy.”

Morgan Taylor, 26, captured footage of the mystery artist, who was dressed in a white T-shirt and black shorts, at around 11pm on Monday.

He said: “He looked pretty casual and quite comfortable doing it.

“He had this air of confidence about him. He didn’t look out of place.”

Some argued the ostriches were more in keeping with Banksy’s original style than his latest work.

The zoo mural, where the gorilla releases a sea lion and birds, is Banksy’s ninth in the city in as many days.

It is potentially the “source” of all the others, after paintings of animals including goats , monkeys and fish, suddenly popped up all around London.

His eighth artwork, a rhino appearing to mount a car, was defaced by graffiti hours after it emerged on a building in Charlton, South East London.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “It’s a real shame a mindless vandal has defaced the mural, which has already drawn visitors and brought so much joy to many.”

The Nissan Micra, a key part of the artwork, was also driven away.

However bosses at ­London Zoo were delighted at Banksy’s final piece.

Rebecca Blanchard said: “This was an incredible ­surprise and we are, quite frankly, thrilled that he’s chosen us to be what could be the grand finale of this series that’s been so talked about.”

The zoo is working to protect it from the sun and will leave the shutter so visitors can see the artwork

Banksy

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