Peacock ruffles a few feathers with its cries

The owner of a noisy peacock has been warned by council chiefs she faces a £5,000 fine following complaints about the birds' cries.

Fred the peacock has lived with his mate Freda in the garden of a home on a busy road in Willenhall for four years.

But now Fred's cries, usually a mating call, have caused a flutter, prompting complaints to the environmental health department at Walsall Council. Owner Kim Harper, of Bilston Lane, fears she will now have to re-home Fred after receiving a letter warning she could be fined.

The 40-year-old charity shop worker has issued a desperate appeal to drivers who encourage Fred to hoot by beeping their horns to stop.

Mother-of-four Mrs Harper said: "Fred does honk naturally about six or seven times a day.

"But then other things set him off too.

"He honks if his girlfriend isn't there and he doesn't know where she is, he honks if a police car or fire engine goes by and he honks when people pap their horn to get him to honk.

"People do like to pap to make them honk. I would appeal to people not to do that or I will get fined."