Locals are trying to track down the owner of an American bird of prey which flew into a residential street this week.

A post on Facebook shows the brown feathered bird, which resembles a Harris Hawk, in the Senacre area of Maidstone, and locals are now trying to find its owner on a wing and a prayer.

The first sighting came on Tuesday evening in Reculver Walk at around 8pm.

Nicky Littlejohn's husband and son were walking the family dog when they spotted the bird tucking into its dinner.

She said: "It was eating a pigeon, my husband could see the feathers in its mouth.

"Someone from Leeds Castle called me when I posted the pictures on Facebook, he told me its a Harris Hawk and they're native to California.

"Apparently there have been a few sightings of these birds over the last couple of years.

"He told me one was in Shepway last year.

"I saw it later on in a tree outside my bedroom window."

The large bird was seen again in Reculver Walk at around 7.30pm on Wednesday, but there have been no sightings since.