RESIDENTS of a quiet Bolton street have a colourful new neighbour. This peacock moved in last week and locals believe it might have escaped from a wildlife sanctuary.

A PEACOCK has been spotted strutting its stuff around Harwood.

Residents of Harwood Meadows say the bird has become a regular visitor to their gardens since it was first seen last week.

Among them is Monica Mannion, who said the bird had people flocking to take photographs while it sat on her garden wall.

"He's really big compared to anything else around but he seems quite friendly," she said.

"He has come to sit on the wall a couple of times now. He went into next door's garden and was near the back door for ages, eating grass.

"I think some people might have fed him so he's coming back for more."

Mrs Mannion said she called the RSCPA and was told the only way to catch a peacock is to corner it. But they sounded a note of caution - because peacocks have a powerful leap which they use to escape predators.

Peacocks come from the peafowl family and are native to Asia. They are rarely seen in the wild in the UK, so residents of Harwood believe it must have escaped from a sanctuary.

While the bird might be providing entertainment for some locals, Mrs Mannion said she will be glad to see the back of it.

"I don't like him. He gives me the creeps," she said.