After the past few weeks I could almost say I'm terrified. I'm very frightened

Ann Richard

"I'm afraid that from now on I'll be wearing a bike helmet."

Mrs Richard is a housekeeper at Laggan House on the Carron and Laggan estate in Banffshire.

She was treated at Fleming Hospital in Aberlour for cuts to her head after the bird struck on Thursday.

She explained: "The first attack was last year and now it has happened for the third time in two-and-a-half-weeks.

"It always comes at me from behind, using its talons, and it has drawn blood every time.

"This time it was bleeding so badly I decided to go to the hospital.

"It probably seemed worse than it actually was, as it just needed cleaning and a tetanus."

'Very menacing'

She added: "I expect it's just being protective because I think there's a pair of them nesting in a Scots pine near to the road.

"But it's becoming very menacing and it's just getting worse.

"After the past few weeks I could almost say I'm terrified. I'm very frightened."

The heavily built, medium-sized hawk can feed on mammals, including smaller rabbits, as well as reptiles and small birds.

Male buzzards weigh an average of 800 grammes, while the average weight of females is 940 grammes.