Ken's graffiti windfall (From Your Local Guardian)

Ken's graffiti windfall

2:40pm Friday 7th March 2008 in News By Guardian Reporter

London Mayor Ken Livingstone's election coffers have received a £195,000 boost - from graffiti.

The money came from the sale of a picture by celebrated graffiti artist Banksy at an election fundraising auction last night.

The picture, Sketch for Essex Road, shows two children standing hand on heart in front of another child running a Tesco's shopping bag up a flag pole.

The work is one of more than 30 donated to the campaign for auction which raised more than £230,000.

The money is a big boost for Livingstone's campaign and helps him close the funding gap with Conservative challenger Boris Johnson, who has set a £1.2million fundraising target.