Response officer Pc Oscar Finney was called to reports of suspicious behaviour in the Brierley Hill area in the early hours of Monday morning.

Pc Finney had been on patrol around the area at around 2.20am when West Midlands Police received a call suggesting a man was walking another man on a lead.

The caller believed the pair were in danger of being hit by traffic as they walked along Hill Street.

However, when Pc Finney attended the scene – he discovered the men were taking a pet owl for an early morning stroll.

He said: “The bird was tethered by a piece of rope and perched on one of their shoulders – so from a distance it appeared that one man had a lead around his neck.

“I was patrolling in the area on my night shift so popped along to check out what was happening – and the next thing I knew the owl was on my head.

“One of the more bizarre jobs I have attended. I was there for just a few minutes and, after speaking to the men, continued on my patrols.”