A NEW Banksy-style graffiti that has popped up in Southampton is thought not to be the work of the cult artist.

The satirical artwork has appeared on a pedestrian underpass of the Itchen Bridge, on the Woolston side.

It features a stencilled picture of Prime Minster David Cameron and the tag line “public urinal” – an apparent snipe at the coalition Government’s austerity policies.

Speculation has been growing that it is a Banksy after the renowned Bristol-born guerrilla graffiti artist created a work in Bevois Valley in 2011, although it was later wrecked by vandals.

But Tristy Manco, a Bristol-based art expert, author, graphic designer and lecturer, believes it is not the genuine article. He said: “There doesn’t seem to be much to indicate any connection to Banksy in my opinion.

“Banksy’s humour is a lot more subtle; he doesn’t tend to use text like this – also the over spraying to the bottom right hand corner indicates an amateur technique.

“The scale and positioning also is too random and unconsidered – plus, since Banksy hasn’t done any street stencils for a while, I think his next ones would be quite major events.”

Keith Sekree, a Southampton art expert who owns Banksy originals, said: “I’d be amazed if it was real. The message is weak and the execution is even poorer – look at the overspray to the right hand side, for instance, and it’s lop-sided. “The stencil itself is fine, but that can easily be produced.”

The Woolston graffiti is the latest Banksy-style work that has appeared in the city.

Passers-by did a double-take in May at a stencilled image on the wall of a building in Asylum Road, months before a stencil of a policeman with the words “have a nice day”.