THE Cookley peacocks have become national stars, with TV crews and tabloids eager to tell the tale of the village's feathered "pheasidents".

Leading tabloid and broadsheet newspapers last week featured the 14-strong group of birds, which have become a familiar sight in the village.

Even a breakfast television programme was in the village to capture the creatures in motion, giving an even more bizarre twist to an already offbeat tale.

A crew member from TV's Richard and Judy was one of many media types who descended on the village. Bemused residents could only look on as the crew member dressed up as a peacock for the cameras.

Wyre Forest district councillor for Cookley, Chris Nicholls - who first spoke about the peacocks in the Shuttle/Times & News three weeks ago - said: "It has gone mental.

"It is an unusual story, which is why so many have got it, but I am keen to stress I am not anti-peacock".

Mr Nicholls said the village had taken to the famous visitors in different ways. Some had given the birds "pet names" while others found them "threatening and intimidating".

Reports that shots had been heard along with what sounded like a peacock's cry was a disturbing development, he said.

"We don't want people going round taking pot shots at them. We want them safe," said Mr Nicholls.

He said he was worried the peacocks would overshadow "more important issues" in Cookley, such as the Wyre Forest schools review and the volume of traffic through the village.