Visitors to Teddington's Bushy Park have being warned to stay far away from rutting deer after photographers were spotted dangerously close to stags.

Park authorities are urging the public to give mating deer "respect and space" and stay at least 50 metres away at all times from deer.

The warning comes after shocking footage of photographers disturbing deer in Bushy Park was shared by local resident Stephen Darlington.

His video shows people with cameras crowding stags from just two metres away at the park's Heron Pond, with one keen snapper getting up close and personal with a stag.

But this behaviour is dangerous and disrespectful, the Royal Parks warned in a statement today.

They explained that during deer mating season - known also as rutting season - male deer are "flooded with testosterone and adrenaline" and red stags and fallow bucks can become unpredictable while they compete for female attention.

To stay safe it's important to:

- Keep your dogs on leads or walk them elsewhere

- Abide by the British Deer Society's Code of Conduct

Rutting deer have been known to injure park visitors who come too close.

In 2018, a young girl was injured after being photographed next to a rutting stag in Bushy Park.

Just a year earlier, a visitor to Richmond Park had suffered injuries from a male deer and was taken to hospital.

The Royal Parks say that all incidents happen "almost exclusively" when people get closer to deer than the recommended 50 metres.

Other experts joined calls for visitors to give deer space and respect.

Bushy Park manager Phil Edwards said: "Of course it's disrespectful to get this close to wild animals, however what I really struggle to understand is why these photographers are taking such obvious risks with their own safety.

"These animals are wild and therefore unpredictable, and during the rut stags and bucks are pumped full of testosterone.. Furthermore, they can weigh upwards of 25 stone and travel up to 30mph, so getting hit by one is the equivalent of being mown down by a motorbike.

"Richmond and Bushy Parks are very special because the wild deer roam freely, and animal lovers can observe them behaving naturally from a distance.

"What's not a pretty picture is seeing these majestic animals followed, cornered, sometimes even enticed so that people can get the 'perfect' shot of them. Keep Wildlife Wild by leaving them alone, and just give them a bit of respect."

Charles Smith-Jones, technical adviser for the British Deer Society said: "No matter how relaxed park deer may seem about human presence, never forget that they are wild animals.

"Please give them plenty of space and enjoy the spectacle of the rut from a sensible distance.

"This is not just to avoid disturbing them at this important part of the deer year but is very much for your own safety as well."

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