Tormenting Harris's hawk is captured by Mr Harris

A Harris's hawk that has been repeatedly attacking villagers has been captured by a resident with the same name.

Steve Harris, 40, told the BBC he had managed to humanely catch the hawk in his garden in Flamstead, Hertfordshire.

It is estimated that the bird of prey had swooped on at least 50 people since early March, drawing blood from several victims.

"It's a relief for us and the whole village," said Mr Harris, whose children had been unable to use the back garden after the hawk took up residence in one of their trees.

Residents in the village initially reported being attacked by the bird early last month with a video showing the moment it swooped down on a man.

Nearby Whipsnade Zoo confirmed the bird was not theirs, but said it would not be "actively hostile toward humans" unless it felt threatened.

Royal Mail also confirmed postal deliveries had been disrupted by the bird as it continued to attack people.

More recently an elderly man was treated in hospital when the hawk drew blood on his head.

"Every morning, we wake up and see it up in the tree, getting braver and braver," Mr Harris continued.

"I've been working from home watching it, thinking we've got to get this bird gone."

Mr Harris said he acted spontaneously to capture the bird on Thursday morning.

"It had been chasing me around the village when I went for a run, and when I got back it flew down to the top of my shed.

"The falconer had left me a cage. I was using it to protect myself and I got brave enough when the bird was about a foot away, and I threw it over the top of it, trapping it.

"I screamed out for the falconer to come and help, and he came and tamed it."

Alan Greenhalgh, a falconer from the area, helped Mr Harris trap the bird and told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme he saw it "terrorising two or three people".

"Steve came running out of his garden, 'Quick, quick, quick, I think I've got it'," he explained.

"I ran into Steve's garden and the bird was having a go at him again... we managed to get hold of it before it got loose and luckily otherwise we would have been back to square one."

Mr Greenhalgh theorised the bird was a young male and "hormonal", potentially being the reason behind the attacks.

He added the bird was "as fat as a barrel" after villages had attempted to catch it with food over the weeks.

Jim Hewitt was the man taken to hospital covered in blood after he felt a "smack" on the back of his head while walking to the shop.

The 75-year-old said he was "delighted" the hawk had been caught, and had vowed: "I won't get beaten by a poxy bird."

Mr Harris said the situation had started to become dangerous.

"I got whacked over the head yesterday trying to get into my car... it was getting to the stage where it was attacking people with consistency."

Flamstead Parish Council thanked Mr Harris for his "quick thinking", which saw the bird "trapped quickly and safely".

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said that while police had not led the response to the attacks, a "low-level presence has been maintained in the area".

"Rural specialist Special Chief Inspector Steve Meredith has been facilitating communication with expert agencies and local partners to try and bring the situation to a safe conclusion," the force said.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.