Terrifying moment dive-bombing buzzard attacks woman in her dressing gown and slippers - as bird of prey's reign of terror forces primary school pupils inside at break times
This is the terrifying moment a buzzard swoops down and attacks a woman in her dressing gown and slippers, as the bird continues to terrorise a village.
The bird has terrorised villagers in Havering-atte-Bower for months and has forced one local primary school to temporarily ban pupils from going outside during break time.
The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children is believed to be part of a mating pair.
Local resident and parent Louise Whittle, narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, while in her dressing gown and slippers.
Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mum's head.
She quickly ducks and manages to run away from the bird, which landed on a fence nearby.
Louise said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people.'
Children at Dame Tipping Primary School have been forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury by the bird of prey, believed to be part of a mating pair.
But, as buzzards are protected, the school says 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban.
Louise said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly'.
She added: 'The school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out.
'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.'
However, Louise added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'.
Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground.
She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.'
The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds.
Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm.
'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.'
The bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park.
Ms Dix said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head.
She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it.
'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'.
'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.'
The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue.
The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert.
A Havering Council spokesperson said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received.
'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time.
'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.
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