A street-art enthusiast is "heartbroken" after he spent two years "badgering" Banksy to decorate his town, only for the work he finally did to be destroyed.

Jacob Smith is set on keeping the piece in Herne Bay where it was created, as "the work was done for a purpose - to benefit the town".

The 30-year-old told KentOnline: "I first emailed Banksy's office two-years-ago on the off chance that he would do something in Herne Bay for an art festival I'm putting together."

After emailing right up until the week before the art's unfortunate end, he eventually got the response that his proposals would be put in front of the elusive artist.

However on March 14, he was shown an Instagram post of the crumbled building by his girlfriend.

Mr Smith exclaimed: "I felt disbelief and shock when I heard the news.

"I worked hard to make this happen - so I'm more heartbroken than most.

"I spent so long badgering him to do a piece - and now be has - but no one can see it."

He believes it would be an "awful coincidence" if his emails were not the catalyst for the street-artist hitting Herne Bay.

The street-art collector and occasional dealer lives just 20 minutes from Blacksole Farm where the work, titled Morning is Broken, went up.

He hopes developers Kitewood will return the work to the town and display it for all to see.

"It was created in Herne Bay - It should stay in Herne Bay" he added.

Mr Smith estimates that after being restored, the art could be worth £300,000 to £500,000.

He continued, "I still can't believe he did a piece, and I am grateful for that, but I just want it to stay here."

The Banksy lover is working on plans for the Kent Street Art Festival, where he wishes the restored painting will be showcased along with local talent, as well as his own collection of original hand sprayed placards by the famous artist from the 2003 anti-war march in London.

The whereabouts of the recent painting is still unknown, but contractors pulled broken remains out of the skip after realising it's significance.

Shortly after, rumours that the man himself had been spotted at Blacksole Farm stirred after a mysterious chap in a bowler hat was seen.

The art is not the first Banksy to be taken apart in Kent, as his work in Margate was dismantled by Thanet District Council just hours after he claimed it, and is now being taken out of the wall by an Essex art gallery to be displayed at Dreamland.

Kitewood has been approached for comment.