William Gannon, a councillor in the south-western Welsh town of Pembroke Dock, gave the bizarre reason for his immediate resignation yesterday, The National reports.

“As you may be aware an allegation has been repeatedly made that I am not who I say I am but that I am the artist Banksy,” he said in a statement. “This allegation is undermining my ability to do the work of councillor and council rep properly.”

He went on to say that he did not want the allegation to “undermine the reputation of Pembroke Dock Town Council” and was therefore standing down.

Mr Gannon is a former community artist, but denies being the world-famous street artist Banksy, who has over 11 million followers on Instagram and has sold works for as much as $1.4 million.