A middle-aged man armed with a chain saw has been chopping up For Sale signs outside people's homes.

Police in Merton have just released a photograph of a man wanted for chopping up the boards in Wimbledon and Raynes Park.

It is not known whether he is taking revenge on estate agents, angry about soaring house prices, or simply hates seeing so many advertising boards in streets in the area.

The man was first spotted using a hand-held electric saw to cut down a For Sale sign in Worple Road, Wimbledon, on Friday, June 6.

He is thought to be 55 or 56 years old and was spotted at about 4.30pm before making off in an unknown direction.

Police later discovered a number of For Sale signs sawn in half around the Raynes Park area.

Police Constable Edmonds, from Wimbledon Station, said: "We are not sure why he is causing damage to sign posts within the Raynes Park area and we would like to stop him before he causes damage to signs on other properties."

He is described as 5ft 10 ins with grey thinning hair, wearing a blue jumper, blue jeans, grey converse trainers and dark sunglasses.

Anyone who may recognise the person should contact the Local Policing Team on 020 8649 3052 or call Crimestoppers, which is completely anonymous on 0800 555 111.