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Banksy has opened his own high street shop in London - but no one will ever be allowed to go inside.

The shop, called Gross Domestic Product, sells artwork including life vests washed up on the shores of the Mediterranean that were hand-stitched by women in Greek migrant camps.

Banksy says he has been forced to open the shop following a legal dispute with a greeting card company.

Mark Stephens, an arts lawyer and founder of the Design and Artists Copyright Society, described the row as "frankly ludicrous litigation".

It began after a card company tried to sell Banksy merchandise, forcing the mysterious street artist to produce his own in order to avoid someone else claiming the trademark, My London reports.

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: SWNS)

Although people will be able to visit the store for the next two weeks, its doors will never open and the lights will remain on 24 hours a day.

Mr Stephens said: "Banksy is in a difficult position because he doesn't produce his own range of shoddy merchandise and the law is quite clear: if the trademark holder is not using the mark, then it can be transferred to someone who will."

As a solution to the issue, Mr Stephens proposed that Bansky launch his own range of merchandise and open a shop.

(Image: PA) (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The artist said: "The proceeds from these products will go towards buying a new migrant rescue boat to replace the one confiscated by Italian authorities.

"So you may well be committing a criminal offence by purchasing them.

"Sometimes you go to work and it's hard to know what to paint, but for the past few months I've been making stuff for the sole purpose of fulfilling trademark categories under EU law. It's not a very sexy muse."

(Image: PA)

Other items for sale include disco balls made from used police riot helmets and a toddler's counting toy where children are encouraged to load wooden migrant figures inside a haulage truck.

Items on display in the shop, which are only available to buy online, range in price from a £10 signed spray paint can to a handbag made from a house brick.