A millionaire philanthropist has gone missing from his home in Wimbledon.

Sir Peter Lampl, the chairman of the Sutton Trust educational charity, was last seen at his home at 8.30am on Sunday.

Police said the 61-year-old’s disappearance was “entirely out of character”.

He was on long-term medication which he did not take with him.

Sir Peter, who made his fortune with his private equity firm the Sutton Company, founded the Sutton Trust in 1997.

The charity creates educational opportunities for underprivileged children. Along with the Government, it runs summer school at 60 universities for about 6,000 state school pupils every year.

Sir Peter, who spent his early childhood on a council estate in Wakefield, Yorkshire, went on to study at Oxford University after winning places at grammar schools in Reigate, Surrey, and Cheltenham, Glos.

He has been a key Government adviser on education and Tony Blair, the previous Prime Minister, invited him as a private guest to Chequers.

When the Sutton Trust celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 1997, Gordon Brown praised Sir Peter for “increasing social mobility and social justice”.

Merton Police described him as white, about 5ft 8ins tall, with greying hair and blue eyes, and a slight tan.

He was wearing a blue sweater and blue casual trousers when he was last seen.

DI Grahame Horwood, of Merton’s Missing Persons Unit, said: “Sir Peter’s disappearance is entirely out of character, and his family are understandably very concerned for his safety.”

Anyone who has seen was urged to call 020 8649 3122 or Missing People on 0500 700 700.