A man dressed as Spiderman was arrested by police on suspicion of a high street charity collection scam.

The 25-year-old claimed to be raising money for London-based charity Healing UK, but a member of the public became suspicious and contacted police.

Officers found the man shaking a bucket outside Sainsbury’s, in High Road, North Finchley, and questioned him outside the supermarket on Thursday.

During the conversation, they discovered the name he gave to them did not match his charity identification badge and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of fraud.

The suspected scammer, from Hackney, has since been bailed to return to a north London police station in July.

Healing UK, which has its headquarters based near Old Street tube station, provides complimentary treatments and low cost therapies for people with life-limiting illnesses.

A representative of the charity said its members always wore identification badges and that the organisation was “appalled” at the alleged incident, but would not comment further.

Do you have any pictures of the Spiderman collector? Email the newsdesk via chewett@london.newsquest.co.uk.