A BANKSY-STYLE art piece depicting two refugees in Marlborough town centre has sparked much debate over whether it is vandalism or street art.

The anonymous artist, Broke Art, drew the blue stencil drawings of a distressed woman wearing a headdress and a young boy on a junction box near St Mary’s Church at the end of London Road.

Ever since the artist, who grew up in Marlborough, finished their work, which was done in the last month, residents in the town have been split on whether or not this is graffiti or art.

“I wanted to do this primarily to raise awareness of the growing refugee crisis, it is so easy to forget the world around us,” said the artist, who has said that any of the profits that go through their website will go to the charity Hand In Hand for Syria.

“However, having grown up in the Marlborough area, I know the place and people very well. I was very curious of the public reaction, it was a little social experiment of mine. It was also to inspire other artists to show their work on the street.

“I was pleasantly surprised that the public opinion was so positive. I would not consider my art vandalism as I do not feel I am damaging anything. But I would say that, it also sounds to me as that is the general consensus is that it is not vandalism. But let us be honest, it is not exactly legal.

“Bansky was a huge influence for me, but I would say Bristol as a city was a bigger inspiration to me.

“The art there is endless, and the best thing about it is its all free.”

Members of the public are divided on this issue.

On the BBC Wiltshire Facebook page Kate Tudor said: “Graffiti is vandalism. I still have to pay to have it removed. Why do you assume everyone has a right to express their stuff by painting on public walls? Why would the rest of us be interested in the thoughts of one special snowflake?”

Josh Hartshorn said: “Art is something you choose to see and pay for in your house and graffiti gives you no choice and you have to pay to not look at it.”

Despite this, the majority of social media posts have praised this work.

Coun Justin Cook, who owns an art gallery in Hungerford, said: “I think it is great to see a great, contemporary and fresh angle on Banksy’s work and is a really superb piece of art.

“It has strong message that we can do more about the refugee crisis. It makes people think. The public reaction has been so positive. When it was mentioned at a meeting with the town council, no negative connotations were raised at all.”