The peacock seen roaming around a north Watford estate in recent days may have escaped from a Bushey farm.

Andy McLennan, a director of the farm at The Lincolnsfields Children's Centre said one of its six peacocks has been missing for around a week.

He appealed to the public to help update staff at the farm, in Bushey Hall Drive, on the bird’s latest whereabouts so it can be recaptured as soon as possible.

The brightly-coloured bird has been seen around the Meriden Estate on Friday and over the weekend.

The latest reported sighting was in Osprey Close yesterday.

Speaking to the Watford Observer, Mr McLennan said: "There are six (peacocks) and we only have five at the moment so we are pretty sure it is ours.

"The reason it may have walked off is because it may have been bullied by the other peacocks. It is mating season and it may have walked off to find another mate."

He added the bird, which has no name, appeared to have followed the Colne River from the farm up to the Meriden Estate.

Prior to Friday the centre had received reports of sightings of the peacock in Bushey and then in Colne Way near the Dome Roundabout.

The bird appears to have settled in the Meriden area, where it has been seen milling around for the last couple of days.

The police will not intervene in the situation unless the bird is seen near a major highway and the RSPCA will not get involved unless the bird is injured or in distress.

The RSPB has urged people to keep their distance from the peacock as they can be aggressive if disturbed of if they feel threatened.

Anyone who has seen the bird recently is asked to let staff at the Lincolnsfield Centre know by emailing farm@farmworld.co.uk.