A THURROCK man is one of two people charged after a Banksy artwork was stolen from a London art gallery.

An investigation was launched after a burglary at the Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street on Sunday (9 September).

The work, 'Girl with Balloon', is part of a series of paintings and stencils by the guerrilla artist and was the only item stolen. It has since been recovered.

James Love, 53, of Elvin Drive, North Stifford, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court yesterday (Thursday, 12 September) along with Larry Fraser, 47, of Evelyn Denington Road, Beckton, charged with theft.

They were bailed ahead of appearing at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 9 October.

Magistrates heard the pair allegedly entered Grove Gallery as trespassers and stole the artwork, which is valued at £270,000.

It had been part of an exhibition called Banksy's London Rebellion which featured the artist's works and ran through august and September.

The piece was voted the nation's favourite artwork in 2017 in a poll of 2,000 people.