A self-employed landscaper looking for love has managed to get a string of dates after being kicked out of a London station for holding a placard that said “hot brunettes wanted for 2014”.

Gerald Abrahams, 39, braced floods and howling winds as he spent last week hauling around a placard in central London and Kingston calling on Miss Right to get in touch.

All he asked was that she liked dogs and landscapers – and was not a redhead or blonde.

The single romantic of Roebuck Road, said: “I just wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary – as it is I’m turning 40 this year. I just could not face another year of online dating.

“It is really ridiculous but if I didn’t do it I would have regretted it and thought what would have happened. The neighbours love it – it’s a constant source of amusement to them.

“Some people just look at you and think oh my god, loony. Some people get the humour – they smile and take pictures. No girls have come up to me.”

But Mr Abrahams dubbed #WaterlooRomeo on Twitter has had more than 300 emails from hopefuls wanting to date him – not to mention two dates, albeit one a set-up by a opportunist online dating company, and another already lined up for next week.

But his plan nearly crumbled after police officers escorted him and his home-made signs outside of Waterloo station in the rain on his first day girlfriend hunting.

Mr Abrahams, a former pupil of St John’s School in Leatherhead, said: “I was there about 15 or 20 minutes before the security guard turned up. I explained I had called up. I stood my ground but I got escorted out by police in the end.”

Waterloo Romeo has had a few girlfriends over the years but no serious relationship for seven years.

He said: “I know what I like and I am not prepared to start something when I don’t think it is going to go anywhere.

“I have asked people out on the street – when you get a bit of courage, but every girl I’ve asked is going out with somebody. You get the ‘sorry I have a boyfriend’. I never pick up anybody in nightclubs.

“I would be quite happy to stay in with the girlfriend and the dog.”

Mr Abrahams currently lives with his black mongrel dog Sonny who he says is “pretty special” and enjoys taking photos as well as watching black and white films – and a few romantic comedies here and there.

But for now the most important woman in his life is his mother Virginia Abrahams from Claygate, who said: “He is such a lovely young man. He goes out of his way to help people. People are always telling me how great he is.

“He works hard – a bit too hard. I am sure he would make a great boyfriend.”