Poundland is famous for its low prices, but an item worth about $500,000 has disappeared from the retailer’s Wood Green branch in north London.

A mural by guerilla artist Banksy, which had been painted on the shop’s wall, was mysteriously removed last weekend, and has subsequently appeared on a US auction site. Poundland says it is “shocked”. It remains unclear who was responsible. The painting would be beyond the budget of the shop’s customers but no doubt did drive footfall.