Hawk attacks blamed for disrupting village's post

Postal deliveries to a village have been hindered after continued attacks on people by a Harris's hawk.

Royal Mail told the BBC it was continuing to operate a service to the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead, but deliveries to some addresses had been disrupted.

The parish council said the bird of prey had swooped and attacked about 50 residents since it first arrived earlier this month.

If disturbances continued it could be euthanised, the authority added.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "I can confirm we continue to deliver to the area, however there are a number of addresses where deliveries have been disrupted due to this reason."

Earlier this week a runner exercising in the village was attacked "out of the blue" by the hawk.

A 91-year-old man also claimed the bird had taken a hat off his head twice, forcing him to create a makeshift chinstrap.

According to nearby Whipsnade Zoo, which confirmed it did not own the hawk, birds of prey could attack if they felt provoked or threatened.

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