A referee took out his revenge on abusive players by threatening them with an axe.

The official flipped during a five-a-side game between Romark FC and Czech Club in Finchley, North London.

One witness claimed: "All hell broke loose. The ref was like Conan the Barbarian.

"He was getting abuse from the Romark players and he abandoned the game.

"One of the players called him a fairy and he went completely berserk. He ran off the pitch and returned a few moments later stripped to the waist and waving a long axe around his head."

The unnamed ref sent players scattering, although he did not catch any of them with the axe. He then got in his car and drove off.

Rumours that the FA are trying to track him down so he can referee the next Arsenal-Man United match are as yet unconfirmed