London - Former Beatle Ringo Starr has told his fans to stop asking for autographs and warned that he will throw their mail away from October 20 because he has too much to do.

In a video message posted on his website, the 68-year-old former Beatles drummer said: "I want to tell you please... do not send fan mail to any address that you have. Nothing will be signed after the 20th of October. If that is the date on the envelope, it's gonna be tossed."

"I'm warning you with peace and love I have too much to do. So no more fan mail, thank you, thank you, and no objects to be signed. Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love."

Starr, wearing his trademark dark glasses, said it was "a serious message to everybody watching."

He currently divides his time between homes in Los Angeles, the South of France and Surrey in the south of England. dpa