It was a scene straight out of a David Attenborough natural history documentary but instead of gracing our TV sets it was being played out in Wolverhampton city centre.

Passers-by were startled and initially thrilled to see a majestic sparrowhawk swoop down over St Peter’s churchyard yesterday – until it pounced on a pigeon and began devouring it.

The bird or prey was seen just before 10am in St Peter’s Walk, next to Barclays Bank, and was still there 20 minutes later picking the bones of his catch. One officer worker said: “I’m not a pigeon fan but it wasn’t very nice to see.”

Kawa Mahmood, a 28-year-old unemployed factory walker, was on his way to the bank when he came across the scene.

He said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes.

A bird of prey is not something you expect to see in the middle of a built-up city. I took some pictures on my phone to show my friends.” Mr Mahmood, of Sutherland House, near West Park, said passers-by were horrified by the scene.

“I was shocked myself but fascinated at the same time – but you could see that a lot of people were disturbed by the sight.”

Dave Palmer, of the Wolverhampton branch of the RSPB, said it sas not unusual to see a sparrowhawk in such an urban setting.

“The sparrowhawk population in cities is increasing – and we are even getting more peregrine falcons moving into the cities,” said Mr Palmer.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t have one nesting on the church within 10 years.”