The guy is nothing more than an 'anti-establishment' hypocritical fraud. At least he's beyond rich, right?

rbk, london,

He gave up his ID the second he made £££ through Graf!!

D, Liverpool, Merseyside

For the mail on sundays next trick they will tell all three year olds the truth about santa, the tooth fairy plus the statistical likelihood of contracting fatal cancer. Yay for freedom of expression.

ro, cheltenham,

Why would the Mail on Sunday and subsequently the Times identify him? How is it possibly in the public interest to do so, in particular if, as you suggest, this is the end of his career?

Ryan, Dublin,

Excellent. I await a prosecution on vandalism charges.

W Smith, Manchester,

A vandal is a superstar? But of course! Just as being called a 'pimp' and a 'hoe' is respectable today. I don't see any difference.

Banti, East Ham, England

Part of the attraction of his work is not knowing who he is. leave him alone!

'K', Hampshire,

People do care.
I think attempts to unmask Banksy are terrible. Let him be. I don't want to know the man behind the art... I want him to be secretive and live this life of mystery he's created. There are so many more terrible men in the world. Leave Banksy be, so that we can all enjoy his work

Brittney, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Its a shame that people dwell so entirely on where someone was schooled. I hardly think that Banksy's art reflects the fact that he went to some sort of public school. His identity shouldnt have to be represented by his art, can't the two be separated? He obviously doesnt feel his identity matters.

claudia, winchester, uk

As someone on another site said, sub O level stenciling with incredibly naive childish political slogans. Now we find out that he's a little posh boy too - it's very easy to be anti establishment when safe in the knowledge that an inheritance beckons!

Another example of the emperor's new clothes.

Alex, London,

Banksy is like a modern day hero. He is able to express his opinions and views in the form of ART (not vandalism), whilst keeping his identity completely anonymous. His artwork is inspiring to most people, so to unmask him and force him off of the graffiti scene is unacceptable. I agree with Laura!

Louis, Southampton, England

"he can take his terrorist loving views with him.
Jay, London"
Terrorist-loving? Banksy is an active protester against opression and cruelty, and what better way than through art? It's a travesty for modern art if this really is Banksy's identity. Keep it secret for as long as possible, I say.

Claire, London, UK

Mickey mouse has rights too! what's clever about infringement ?

Alan Jones, Liverpool,

If he is as great as we all say he is then his identity shouldn't make a blind bit of difference.

Alex Penn, London,

This strikes me as like telling a child there is no Santa Claus - How cruel of a paper seeking a story to force a landmark modern artist into hiding, potentially never to return to what he does. Whatever you think of Banksy, many enjoy his work and if he can't go back to it, they've ended an era.

Laura, Brighton,

Does anyone really care what his real name is or where he went to school ? Does it add or detract from his art ? No . Sometimes a small amount of mystery is a good thing ... Shame if this is his real identity .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Last years man. Unless he can re-invent himself that is?

kevin, Lincoln, UK

Banksy truly is an amazing artist and I totally agree with Darren, I don't want to know who he is. His identity being secret is all part of his art.

For anybody interested in looking at his work I would recommend the book 'Wall and Piece', which illustrates his genius perfectly.

Alistair, Selby, UK

A talentless D list cartoonist. If this makes him disappear into well deserved obscurity then good. And hopefully he can take his terrorist loving views with him.

Jay, London,

Why people want to unmask Banksy??Just leave him alone...If the identity of Banksy is shown on public i believe things won't be the same again...

Nikos, Athens, Greece

If being unmasked has put Bansky out of business, perhaps before he quits he could stencil onto a wall the name of the editor of the Mail on Sunday. I don't know if it will have the same effect but we can always hope.

joe, birmingham, uk

Well, you're reading it.

Neil Taylor, Saltash, UK

I wonder why someone's painted over the "Tesco bag" in the Banksy painting in Islington.. another example of corporate vandalism

Pepe, London, UK

Isn't this the fifth or so time he's been 'unmasked'? He'll keep going; his only challenge will be subverting the culture that embraces him so completely!

Anna, Cardiff, UK

Banksy is a legend, a true artist, very much in touch with current feelings and attitudes. I don't want to know who he is, it makes his work more interesting not knowing.

Just leave him alone or he'll stop doing what he does, and we'll have lost one of the modern masters.

Darren, Norwich, UK

Does anyone really care?

Adam, Manchester, UK