Banana art piece proves fruitful

The banana artwork was previously shown in New York

Passers-by in Trafalgar Square were handed out bananas on Tuesday after an artwork made of 30,000 items of the fruit was dismantled.

The installation, which measured 8ft high and 15ft wide, was created on the pedestrianised area outside the National Gallery in central London.

It was made by London-based artist Doug Fishbone after the Greater London Authority gave it the go-ahead.

The life of the work ended after 11 hours and 30 minutes.

The artwork, now entitled 30,000 Bananas, was previously shown in New York but only involved 10,000 bananas.

Curator Tom Motson said: "The bananas were be given away to the public.

"That's what the work is all about, about the generosity of that gesture and about the relationships fostered through giving away the fruit, as well as the fact that this is a truly beautiful sculpture."