AN unusual guest has taken up residency of a garden in Crossways.

Last Friday, August 21, a peacock wandered in to a garden in the village and seems to have adopted it as its new home.

The peacock is living in the garden of Sandra Wayman, in the centre of Crossways and she is hoping to reunite the bird with its owner or find a more appropriate home for it.

Sandra has affectionately named the peacock Percy.

She said: “Last Friday, a peacock wandered into our garden and seems to have taken up residence. It is very tame so we assume it belongs to someone."

The bird hasn't been too much of a nuisance but the nature of where Sandra lives means she wants to find it alternative accommodation for its own safety.

She said: “As nice as it is, we live on a road frequented by heavy quarry lorries and I’m really worried that he’ll wander on to the road and get squashed."

Sandra has been asking around the village to try and reunite the bird with its owner but as of yet has had no luck re-uniting peacock and owner.

She said: “I’ve spent four days now asking around the village to see if anyone knows of anyone who has mislaid a peacock.

“He’s not a small bird so his owners must have noticed he has gone missing but I just keep drawing a blank.”

On Monday (August 25) the RSPCA came to try and catch the peacock but despite their best efforts, Percy escaped across the road and took up hiding in a nearby tree.

By Tuesday morning though, Percy had returned to the garden and was making himself at home once again.

Sandra said that the RSPCA would happily come and try and catch the peacock again once it had been contained.

She also spoke to a peafowl expert who said the best plan may be to encourage the peacock in to a shed over a few days to make it easier for the bird to be removed.

If you have any information on Percy's owner or can offer more appropriate accommodation for him please get in touch on the details below and we will put you in touch with Sandra.

01305 830982 @DorsetechoAlex