A self-styled "Mystery Man" who asked village fete-goers to donate money to guess his identity literally turned out to be a mystery when he vanished after pocketing their cash.

Revellers at Woolaston Carnival in the Forest of Dean assumed the individual was a local resident when he wandered around the fete dressed in a full body morph suit communicating only in mime.

The apparent mime artist offered a £100 prize if he could be identified correctly as he asked villagers to donate £1 to try to unmask him, even handing out entry forms which read: "Is it a bird, is it a plane. No it's Woolaston's Mystery Man".

His identity remained secret throughout the day and has remained so ever since as it is feared he fled with the proceeds.

It is unknown exactly how much entry money was taken but fete-goers have estimated it could be more than £100.

Villagers say they still don't know if they have been duped or are victims of a bad joke by the man who concealed his face the entire time.

And now those behind the Woolaston Carnival in the Forest of Dean have issued a desperate plea for the man to hand over the money before they call in police.