Yorkshire beauty-spot villagers fear Pat the Peacock has become victim of foul play

SHOWING NO MORE: Pat the Peacock, who lived in the picturesque village of Thimbleby, North Yorkshire but is feared to have been shot dead.

A North Yorkshire village is at the centre of a baffling whodunnit after a tame peacock was apparently shot in the dead of night.

The bird arrived mysteriously in Thimbleby two years ago, with no one sure of how it found its way to the village on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

It quickly became a fixture and was affectionately known as Pat by villagers who would feed it as it hopped between their gardens. But it has not been seen since September 6 when police were called to the village after receiving reports of shots being fired. Officers found no evidence of a shooting and there did not appear to be a victim, until locals realised the peacock had gone and feathers were found beneath the tree where it roosted.

Resident Michael Read said he was concerned that the bird had been shot and removed.

Mr Read said: “He was a noisy blighter but we absolutely adored him. He was beautiful and everyone loved having him wander into the gardens.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “After an investigation we were unable to take the matter further. No arrests have been made.”