A Polish man living in Italy has identified the so-called Piano Man as a French street musician he once worked with, it has emerged.

Italian police said the 33-year-old illegal immigrant had approached officers at the famous Trevi Fountain, in Rome, after spotting the pianist's photograph in a newspaper.

He said that the man, who has not spoken since he was found wandering near the beach in Minster, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, was called Steven Villa Masson.

The street mimer said he had worked with Mr Masson in Nice.

Social worker Michael Camp, who has been looking after the man since he was found on April 7, wearing a dripping wet suit and tie, said last night: "It is a possibility and we will follow it up tomorrow.

"Until we get some really firm evidence where somebody can show us a picture of him or anything concrete then it is a possibility and nothing more."

The name and background of the man who does not speak, but who stunned carers by giving a four-hour virtuoso piano performance, remain a mystery after one possible link to Sussex was ruled out.

All efforts to communicate with the shy and agitated man, who is in his 20s or early 30s, have failed, leaving experts baffled over his identity. The labels from his clothes had been removed, making it even harder to find out who he is.

Staff at Medway Maritime Hospital, in Gillingham, gave the mystery man a pen and paper in the hope he would write his name or draw his country's flag.

Instead, he drew highly detailed pictures of a grand piano, showing not only the keys, but also the intricate inner workings of the instrument.

He is now being held in a secure mental health unit in north Kent until a full assessment has been carried out.