It is feared items that formed parts of a new Banksy artwork were stolen before it could be preserved.

Titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara', the new piece, on the side of a house in Margate, shows a woman in a retro dress, complete with kitchen apron and Marigolds, with a bruised eye and missing teeth.

Sticking out from a fridge-freezer are a pair of legs, suggesting the man has been dumped there by his wife.

There was also a glass bottle, a broken chair and a frying pan on the ground, completing the scene.

The artwork, which appeared on the back of a building in Park Place on Monday, was later confirmed to be a genuine Banksy - prompting art lovers to flock to Thanet to view it.

However it also feared to have prompted visits from thieves, with three of the items forming the artwork nabbed before London-based Red Eight Gallery could arrive to preserve it.

The chief executive of the gallery, Julian Usher said: "There were other items forming part of this art installation.

"We believe a frying pan with red paint on it, then a bottle and a chair.

"We have had contact from an unknown person offering the frying pan for sale and we will consider securing that.

"Regarding the chair and bottle, it is unlikely and probably on balance, deemed unnecessary.

"We had security on site by 10am having had the call just after 9am on Tuesday morning from the owner and by then they had gone.

"We have the freezer secured and in storage.

"It is a shame that a local was quick to remove an item, but it won't affect what the owner wishes to achieve."

The mural, which is on the side of a house, is set to be cut away from the building by structural engineers so it can eventually be moved to a permanent home.

Mr Usher previously confirmed the homeowner has instructed the gallery to handle the safe removal of the work described as "doable" but "complicated" as it requires cutting a 2x3 metre section out of the wall.

The landlord has asked for domestic abuse charities to benefit from any money raised in the process.

Until a new home is found, the artwork has been covered by Perspex.

There has been talk it might be placed in the town's Turner Gallery, however this is yet to be confirmed.

The freezer was controversially taken away by Thanet District Council on Tuesday but was later returned, only to be removed again last night by art handlers contracted by Red Eight Gallery.

It is now in storage ahead of being put on display when the accompanying street art is removed.

The county has played host to genuine and confirmed Banksys on more than one occasion, both in Folkestone and in Dover.

His Brexit-themed Dover piece portrayed the image of a workman on a ladder chipping away one of the stars of the EU flag.

The artwork, which was valued at £1 million, was controversially painted over, leaving a giant white square in its place.