The world’s fastest animal has made a new home on top of Harborough's St Dionysius Church

A magnificent peregrine falcon has made a prominent Market Harborough medieval church her new home.

The bird of prey – the world’s fastest animal – is pictured here loving life on St Dionysius Church in the town centre.

The beautiful raptor, coming up to a year old, has been snapped in all her glory by sharp-eyed Harborough man Ken Robinson.

Ken, 77, of Essex Gardens, said: “I keep an eye on the church for anything unusual and I suddenly spotted the peregrine a few days ago.

“She’s a fantastic bird and I started taking pictures of her straight away.

“She seems to be loving it here and I’ve seen her feasting on a pigeon she’d killed.”

The keen amateur wildlife photographer said the female bird was ringed as a fluffy chick at Bristol’s famous Avon Gorge on May 24 last year.

The falcon, which can hit an incredible 200mph in a steep dive, weighed 895g or about 31ozs.

“We do get peregrines making themselves at home on the spire at St Dionysius from time to time.

“But this is the first one I’ve seen for a year or two,” said Ken.

The retired transport manager has also shot pictures of rare endangered water voles on the River Welland in Harborough.

“Water voles are in real trouble.

“I’ve not seen any down here for years so it was a real treat,” said Ken, a grandad.

“The fact that they’re here shows that the water’s very clean and I wish this water vole family well, they’ll need it.”