A photographer has caused heartache to newly-married couples by leaving them waiting months for their wedding pictures.

Some are furious that despite repeated emails and messages demanding he hand over the prints, for which they have paid, they have been unable to contact photographer Shaun Chandler.

Other devastated couples who have spoken to him since their wedding day have been offered an apology but still not received the photographs.

The couples are angry and puzzled about why the photographer, who has taken pictures for satisfied customers in the past, has not handed over their pictures, other than being told he has personal problems.

Trading standards officers have also failed to track him down.

One bride has been in tears and another wants to protest outside his home with a banner saying "Don't hire this man".

The Argus tracked Mr Chandler to a flat at Brighton Marina.

Mail, including post from people let down, is being collected but neighbours said he had not been seen for weeks.

Newlyweds are not the only complainants. At least two schools, one a nursery, have not seen pictures he took of their children months ago.

Police and trading standards officers from East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, have all received complaints.

Lisa Frazer, 31, a secretary, married Dean, 32, a CCTV engineer, last May at Crawley register office.

They paid Mr Chandler £350 in cash before the wedding and another £108 by cheque for extra prints.

Mrs Frazer said: "We have not received one photograph. That was our special day and one you can't recreate. We're so upset."

Mrs Frazer spoke to the photographer in November when he apologised for the delay, saying he had personal problems. The couple got the same excuse when they called again.

The Frazers, of Falcon Close, Langley Green, Crawley, are furious.

Mrs Frazer said: "It has even caused rows between Dean and me. It's not fair."

She has written to the BBC's Watchdog consumer affairs programme and has contacted Brighton and Hove Trading Standards.

She said: "I wish we had gone elsewhere for our pictures. I feel like camping outside Chandler's home with a banner."

Les Cherriman's daughter Lesley, 34, a speech therapist, married university researcher Miguel, 33, in Lewes in September.

Mr Cherriman said he gave Mr Chandler £300 to take the pictures and for the prints.

Mr Cherriman, 63, of Kemp Town Mews, Brighton, has tried unsuccessfully to contact Mr Chandler. His web site was also defunct.

Mr Cherriman said: "I have been in business and I know times get hard sometimes.

"I was sympathetic to begin with but why doesn't he just give us the negatives? Then we could get our own prints done."

Pamela Marsh, 49, who works part-time, married Bryn, 52, an electrical contractor, last July.

She said: "It was such a nice day and it was a wonderful occasion. Everything went well, apart from the photos. We gave Mr Chandler £200."

Mrs Marsh, from Horley in Surrey, said she spoke to Mr Chandler in December: "He said his marriage had broken up and he asked me to bear with him."

Adam Thomson, a computer analyst from Shoreham, said he was "gutted".

Mr Thomson, 31, married Tabitha, 28, a computer support worker, last July. They gave Mr Chandler £422 but have not received any pictures.

He said: "Mr Chandler showed us the proofs so we know the pictures exist."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove Trading Standards said: "We are aware of Shaun Chandler's actions and have had several complaints.

"We have tried to contact him but his whereabouts are unknown. We have advised people to contact the police as trading standards don't have power to prosecute."

East Sussex Trading Standards said it had received three complaints, all from newlyweds, and West Sussex Trading Standards has received two.

We left messages at Mr Chandler's home, emailed him and tried calling him on what is now a defunct mobile phone line. He was unavailable.