Fire HQ staff have given a peacock problem a happy outcome.

When the pair of stray male peacocks arrived in the grounds of the West Yorkshire Fire Service headquarters in Birkenshaw, Bradford, two months ago staff didn’t bat an eye.

Their new-found feathered friends settled in well, peering through windows and strutting around the car park with their colourful plumage.

But unfortunately the younger peacock developed a cyst on his eye.

The RSPCA collected him and following his operation he has since been re-homed on a farm.

Ashley, the larger peacock, named after Coronation Street butcher Ashley Peacock, remained in the grounds. But after spotting his reflection in the shiny bodywork of cars parked around the site he began to attack, thinking it was another peacock invading his territory.

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokeswoman said the decision was therefore made to re-home him to more suitable surroundings. “They tried to catch him but Ashley proved quite elusive and flew away on a few occasions to avoid capture,” she said.

Eventually bird expert Neil West-wood was drafted in.

Neil said it was one of the most unusual assignments he has had since buying into the NBC (Native Bird Control) franchise. He is one of 31 area managers throughout the country, looking after Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Harrogate and York.

“It took five days to get him,” said Neil. “They are very difficult to get hold of – they are big birds and they are quite fast. They have big legs and they can run!”

Ashley is now settling into his new life at Castle Howard near York.