Landscaper Gerald Abrahams, 39, hit the streets of the capital armed with a placard emblazoned with the words “Hot brunette wanted for 2014!” in a bid to meet his perfect partner.

Mr Abrahams, from Chessington, Surrey, who is looking for “dates or romance”, specified that as well as being brunette the woman “must like dogs and landscapers”.

He decided to take the unorthodox approach after he got “bored” with internet dating and wanted to try something new. Since standing outside Waterloo Station and Piccadilly Circus yesterday, braving wind and torrential rain during the morning rush hour, he said he has had a “few emails” but has not yet contacted potential dates.

He said his perfect woman has to be brunette with brown eyes, but also be “practical, outgoing, with a good sense of humour”, and  told the Standard: “I just needed to do something different for 2014. I’ve had enough of internet dating and thought this would be something light-hearted that people might find amusing and bring a smile to their face.

“I just had a few short-term relationships and needed to do something a bit more, a direct approach.” He added: “There are a few emails coming in. I’ve had about four or five. I’m going to wait and see and I need to recover from this morning. I could do with a drink.”

He hopes his dating stunt works, because he is too traumatised by the experience to do it again.

A similar approach became popular with graduate jobseekers in the capital during the recession, as they carried sandwich boards or placards in a bid to find work. Last year unemployed graduate Adam Pacitti spent his last £500 on a billboard to get a post as a junior producer.”

Images: Alex Lentati / @PapaSonsFilm