SLEEPLESS nights could soon be over for residents in South Oxhey, plagued by a noisy peacock strutting its stuff on the estate.

The stray bird has been living rough in Birkdale Gardens for the past year. No-one knows how it got there but it has made its presence felt by screeching loudly during the night.

Following complaints to Three Rivers District Council, a volunteer from Rickmansworth has agreed to take the bird away and look after it - once it is captured.

The peacock appeared on the road last May, and is believed to have made the area its home after being fed by an elderly resident, who has since died.

Residents have asked the council's animal warden and an RSPCA inspector to remove the bird but it has evaded capture.

Occupants of eight properties in the road, who regularly find the bird on their properties, renewed calls for its removal this week after the noise became unbearable.

Peacocks become louder this time of year because it is breeding season and they want to attract a mate.

One resident, who declined to be named, said: 'The bird calls all night long. At 4am one morning, I saw my neighbour squirting it from a water pistol to shut it up.

'On Monday night, it started at 8.50pm and didn't stop all night. I'm over the moon someone is going to take it away and take responsibility for it.'

Residents were concerned about the bird's safety, believing it was becoming a danger to itself - after it was hit by a car last week - and to drivers swerving to avoid it.

She added: 'It runs wild and walks in the road. We often see it on someone's garage roof or strutting around outside.

'Drivers don't expect to see it and that's very dangerous. They come down the hill like it's Brands Hatch.'

The council's animal warden, Ms Debbie Sandling, plans to meet the Rickmansworth volunteer and try her hand at capturing the peacock.

A council spokesman said: 'We have had complaints and have gone to try to catch it but it's been impossible so far.'

Ms Clare Watkin, from the RSPCA's East Central Region office, added: 'An inspector went out on Monday to find the bird but couldn't get anywhere near it - it kept flying away.

'Peacocks aren't vicious but they will defend themselves.

'If someone can shoo it into a confined space, such as a garden, there could be a reasonable chance it would be caught.'