A Sherlock Holmes-like investigation is being carried out to discover the whereabouts of seven newspaper stands which have mysteriously disappeared from a busy high street.

John Roycroft, 83, of Colindale, is determined to track down the stands that used to line the railings in Station Road, Edgware.

Mr Roycroft, the clerk of the Edgware Quakers’ meetings, bought a stand for more than £200 back in 2008. He used a bicycle lock to secure it to the railings and topped it up with 200 copies of Quaker News four times every year.

But approximately two months ago the stand disappeared. Mr Roycroft said: “I want to know how it disappeared, who did it, why and on what authority. Nobody seems to know and so the mystery deepens.”

“My main objective is to get the thing back. It belongs to me and I would like it returned."

Mr Roycroft has been carrying out his own investigation, contacting shopkeepers and councillors, as well as fellow Quakers but he remains stumped by the disappearance.

He says the other stands included a Jewish newspaper, a travel magazine and the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association’s (LTDA) newspaper.

Steven McNamara, general secretary of LTDA, said: “We lost one about two months ago and put another one there about eight weeks ago but that went as well. Now I’ve accepted that I’m beaten.

“I don’t want to put another one there for that to disappear as well.”

Mr McNamara says he thought Barnet Council was responsible, but a spokesman for the council said they are unaware of what has happened to the stands.

Traders and shoppers are also baffled. Sheroz Taliv, owner of convenience store, Food Centre, said: “People have been asking me where the newspaper stands have gone but I don’t have a clue. They were there for ages and suddenly one day they were gone. It’s very strange.”

Megan Walsh, 29, of Edgware, said: “I noticed they’d gone missing and asked around but no one has a clue where they’ve gone.

“I used to pick up the taxi news for my dad but I can’t get it anymore. It seems to be a bit of a mystery.”

Do you know what happened to the newspaper stands? If you can help, contact the news desk on 07795 497 327.