This is the shocking moment a heron in Beckenham park was caught eating a rat alive by its ear.

Peter Boreham captured the striking photos in Kelsey Park on January 6.

News Shopper: photo: Peter Borehamphoto: Peter Boreham

He said the heron caught a live rat by its ear, drowned it by submerging it in the lake a number of times, lined it up with its beak and swallowed it in one gulp.

News Shopper: photo: Peter Borehamphoto: Peter Boreham

The heron then flew away.

Peter said herons usually prefer to eat fish, eels or frogs but will more rarely kill and eat smaller mammals.

He added: "This large rat stood no chance against the hungry heron."

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