A mystery camper has bizarrely pitched up in fields in Harrow on the Hill - just yards from a prestigious church and a primary school.
It is believed the man has been holed up in the small tent in Church Fields since as far back as July, despite the land backing on to St Mary's Church and being adjacent to St Anselm's Catholic School.
Police confirmed they knew of the man but had no power to remove him because he had permission from the landowners.
A police spokesman said: "We are fully aware of this man, who has been living on the field there for some considerable time.
"He has the consent of the land owners however, St Mary's Church, so as they are aware of his presence and appear to have no objection to it, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to take any action."
But the church said it had no knowledge of the man and no idea what he was doing there.
The Observer approached the occupant while he was hanging his washing on a nearby fence but the man, who spoke little English, didn't want to talk saying simply: "I'm just camping."
It is unclear why the mystery camper is there but one resident from Nelson Road, who asked to remain anonymous, was concerned.
She said: "I believe he has been there for about two-and-a-half months.
"I've never seen anything like it. He hasn't been causing any problems but I think people in the area are worried that other people are going to follow his lead and we're going to have masses of strange campers near our homes."
