Representatives for Bristolian street artist Banksy have revealed the new Kissing Coppers is a fake.

The artwork appeared on the side of the old Astoria Theatre in Brighton on April Fools Day – three days after same sex marriage was legalised in the UK.

City gallery owners said it looked authentic, but The Argus can now confirm the Kissing Coppers no 2 is not a Banksy original.

The original Banksy mural fetched $575,000 (£345,000) at a US auction in February.