A motorcyclist in China has been filmed smashing up his own motorbike after being stopped by the police. The man, who later said he didn't like police checks, took to his own vehicle with what appears to be an axe.

The incident took place in Xingyi City, south-west Guizhou province on the 20th of July.

Footage of the man’s unexpected behaviour was broadcast on China's CCTV, and shows police officers standing around the scene in disbelief.

Another man sitting on a stationary motorbike – possibly a companion of the axe-wielder – seems to see the funny side of the bizarre incident.

The man went about demolishing his own transportation unit even before the police had time to speak to him.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the police detained the man, who told officers that he didn’t like police checks and therefore destroyed his own scooter.

People across social media saw the amusing side of the otherwise shocking video.

ON CCTV’s Facebook page, Djanati Rahim said: 'Maybe it was cheap to buy another bike than to pay the fine.'

While Alex Freimanis wrote: 'That's like punching yourself in the face.'

And Prem Rangwani commented: 'Now, please arrest him for littering!'

The footage of the highly strung motorcyclist and his luckless motorbike can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/cctvnewschina/videos/1282095888497895/

Motorcycles remain very popular in China, despite recent moves to ban them from some city centres in order to limit pollution. Around 19m motorbikes were sold in China each year until 2009, when stricter environmental policies impacted sales. A burgeoning middle class has also developed a taste for cars and SUVs, to the further detriment of the motorcycle industry.