The ghostly, freakish image of a bird , its wings spread, its tail feathers splayed, imprinted on the glass of her patio door, greeted Janice Franklin as she entered the room.

The point where its beak struck the pane was clearly visible.

Added to the unreality of the shot is the presence of a plastic heron in the background, used to deter its mates from stealing pond fish.

Mrs Franklin, 78, - a keen amateur photographer and volunteer missionary – lives in Belmont close, Uxbridge.

The image close up

Pigeons or doves quite often fly into window panes," she said.

"They then leave an impression made of the powder that is in their feathers.”

The fate of the bird is not known but we will bring it to you as soon as we know it.