Graffiti artist Catman has sprayed a brand new piece of art on the side of a charity shop - and it comes with a poignant message.

The Whitstable-based artist - widely regarded as Kent's answer to Banksy - hasn't sprayed a new piece of art in his home town since 2017.

But last night - to coincide with the birthday of David Attenborough - he created a surprise new piece on the side of the Pilgrims Hospice charity shop in the town centre.

The new artwork - entitled Wasted Time - depicts an hourglass.

But instead of sand, it contains a map of the world - which appears to turn into plastic bottles as it trickles down, falling into a large heap below.

"I wanted to do it as close to the sea as I could..." Catman

Speaking exclusively to KentOnline, the notoriously private artist said: "The piece is playing on the fact that we're running out of time to do something about what we're doing to the planet - creating plastic pollution that's going into the water.

"It's also portraying the way we're turning the earth's natural minerals into this man-made human substance that's slowly killing the earth."

Catman says he felt it was important to create this piece in Whitstable. He has previously sprayed artworks including his well-known “shop local” and “drink local” pieces promoting the independent shop scene, and an image of the Queen riding a hoverboard in the town.

"I wanted to do it as close to the sea as I could," he said.

"I was looking for somewhere that I could portray it as close as I can to the ocean, which is where so much plastic is ending up.

"This is the first paint of a new series of pieces I'm going to produce over this year that's solely based on climate change and plastic.

"It's addressing an issue I feel strongly about. I'm dedicating the rest of the year to creating a range of fresh work like this."

The artist also revealed he hopes to help raise money to combat plastic waste, using a practice "test spray" of Wasted Time.

He said he would release more details in the future.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable