BIZARRE footage of a man trying to gain entry to a house before stripping to his boxers has left a homeowner dumbfounded.

CCTV footage shows the man apparently trying to gain access to a property in Dyke Road Avenue, Brighton, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

After an unsuccessful attempt to open the door, he strips to his boxer shorts and leaves the scene – only to return hours later to collect his clothes.

Homeowner Paul Wheeler, 48, watched the footage after his wife asked a peculiar question on Sunday morning. He said: “My wife asked why I’d left my belt on the wall outside, which I found unusual. I went out and found the belt, then immediately wondered who had been leaving their clothes on my wall and went to watch the CCTV.

“I got to the middle of the night, about 3.30am, and found the chap on the footage trying the door.

“He was there for over five minutes before he started taking his clothes off. At about 6.30am he comes back walking down the street in just his pants and collects his clothes. It was surreal.”

Mr Wheeler, a businessman, said police officers could not find any criminal activity in the footage as the man did not enter the property.

He added: “I have no idea what he was up to. Maybe he’d been on a night out? I’m laughing because I’m a grown man but my wife isn’t very happy at all to know that goes on in her street.

“What would have happened if he had got in? I still have his belt so if he would like it back he can get in touch and tell me what he was up to.”

Sussex Police said it received a call at 6.15am on the same day to reports a man, who was just wearing his boxer shorts, had rung the bell of a house a few doors down from Mr Wheeler’s property.

A spokesman from Sussex Police said: “It is unclear whether the man was attempting to break in or whether he was lost. Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 1409 of 15/6.”

Do you know the man in the footage or know what he was up to? Let us know by e-mailing ben.leo@theargus.co.uk or calling 01273 544 544.