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The bird on its perch.

A woman was startled when a huge eagle swooped into her front room and landed on a cabinet while she was watching TV.

Wendy Morrell couldn't believe her eyes when the 18ins tall bird of prey flew through open patio doors and into her lounge in Poole, Dorset, yesterday.

The bird, a Russian Steppe eagle, knocked over ornaments with its 4ft wings as it landed on a wooden glass cabinet before pecking at a bowl of pot pourri.

Wendy and friend Karen Ruddlesden tried to tempt the eagle outside using pieces of ham but when their attempts failed they phoned a local bird of prey rescue centre.

After 30 minutes of trying the eagle was eventually lured down off its makeshift perch using a dead chick.

It was revealed later that the young bird was called Storm and was being trained up to ward off seagulls at a nearby landfill site.

It had been reported missing by owner James Moore three days prior to turning up at Wendy's house after it broke its tethers.