Banksy's transforms a whole street into an art exhibition called the Cans Festival (1)

The public will make its mark on Banksy's latest project, as people are allowed into a whole street which has been transformed into an art exhibition.

The Cans Festival, a three-day street party of stencil art, kicks off today in an old tunnel formerly used by taxis, which was vacated when Eurostar left its Waterloo terminal in London.

Banksy had noticed an abandoned access road and Eurostar, which no longer owns the tunnel, helped to put the idea into action.

Artists from as far afield as Brazil, Canada and Australia are also taking part, and the finishing touches were being worked on yesterday.

Huge installations include smashed up cars, a CCTV camera-laden tree, an ice cream van, a cut-out of the Queen, and statues as well as artwork on the walls.

From today the public can add to the exhibition with their own stencilling.

Banksy said: "Graffiti doesn't always spoil buildings, in fact it's the only way to improve a lot of them.

"In the space of a few hours with a couple of hundred cans of paint I'm hoping we can transform a dark forgotten filth pit into an oasis of beautiful art."

The free event is open to the public from 10am until 10pm on Monday.

After that, the installations will be removed from the road, but the artwork will remain on the walls.

The public are being encouraged to bring their own stencils and wear clothing they don't mind being damaged.

"I've always felt anyone with a paint can should have as much say in how our cities look as architects and ad men," Banksy said.

"So getting to cover an entire street with graffiti is a dream come true, or as some people might call it - a complete and utter nightmare."

Banksy's pieces include classical-style statues with a twist - one named David In Flak Jacket and another called Homeless Venus.

A life-size cut-out picture of the Queen is also present, as well as a tree covered in CCTV cameras.

Another statue is named Brew Period and is painted in camouflage colours and holding a can of Special Brew.

His mural Cave Painting depicts someone cleaning off ancient drawings.

Unknown Hoodie is a painting of a hooded figure with a knife in their hand and blood on their chest.

Boris Johnson also features in murals by a Dutch artist named Hugo Kaagman.

In one piece - We Need Change - the politician's face appears by a picture of a Smurf.

Other works include a van which appears to have gone into a wall by New York artists Faile.

Another artist, who goes by the moniker Pure Evil, was putting the last touches to his stencil work yesterday.

He described the "magical moment" of taking the stencil off to see the finished work.

Speaking about the public aspect of the exhibition, the London-based artist said: "This is inclusive, not for members only."

Pure Evil, who said he was originally from Rhiwfawr near Ammanford, west Wales, joked: "I'm like the Welsh Banksy".

Fellow artist James Dodd, from Adelaide in Australia has put together an installation inspired by dwellings for the homeless in Japan.

It includes graffiti he has found in real life and he said he wonders: "What brought someone to write something like that?"

Mr Dodd said of the exhibition: "It's in a democratic space where people can enjoy it and hopefully get inspired."

Pics: See images of the Festival here

Banksy's first public UK exhibition since 2005 takes place in Leake Street, near Waterloo Station. For more information log onto http://www.thecansfestival.com