Bizarre footage shows a shirtless man feeding a stag in Richmond Park before trying to push it away with a tree branch.

Mum-of-three Freya Reid, 44, filmed the strange scene near the park's Roehampton Gate on July 13.

The man can be seen sitting on a picnic rug throwing food for the stag and appearing to take photographs – all as the mum shouts for him to get away and move his things.

Signs in the park warn visitors that it is illegal to feed the deer, which are wild, and to stay 50 metres away.

The video then shows the man beginning to move away from the stag before it picks up a plastic bag and appears to attempt to chew on it.

The man then returns with a tree branch which he uses to try to push the stag away.

Freya, who was having a picnic nearby with her children, said she had told the man to move all of his things before the stag arrived – but he had ignored her, despite the rest of his family moving away.

Freya Reid, 44, filmed the strange scene near the park's Roehampton Gate on July 13 (Credit: Freya Reid)

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She said: "I shouted 'don't feed the stag, and move your plastic bags' – I said it about 20 times.

"It was just infuriating me, so I thought 'I'm going to video you, because in a minute you're going to get bucked'.

"He had so long to move, the rest of his family moved."

Freya continued: "I wondered if he could speak English in the end, I was telling him over and over and he was ignoring me.

"It's just common sense isn't it? There's no sense whatsoever."

The mum was especially surprised after seeing the man picking up a stick which he used to push the stag away.

She added: "[It was] absolutely crazy, absolutely crazy.

"It was just ridiculous, I haven't even got words for it."

A Royal Parks spokesperson said: "We are shocked to see the videos and photographs circulating online of park visitors feeding and approaching deer in both Richmond Park and Bushy Park.

"It is highly dangerous behaviour. The deer are wild animals, not pets.

"They are large, powerful and unpredictable.

"A red stag can weigh up to 200kg. Getting this close, and offering food, puts people at real risk of serious injury.

"Feeding the deer is illegal in all of the Royal Parks.

"It is harmful to both people and animals. Once deer learn to associate visitors with food they will approach and pester them."

It continued: "Our advice is simple. Keep at least 50 metres away, never feed or touch the deer, and if one comes towards you, put all food and packaging out of sight and move away slowly and calmly.

"Richmond Park alone covers 2,500 acres. Our staff and volunteers do a great job of speaking to visitors, and we have signage across the park, but we cannot be everywhere at once.

"We need everyone who visits to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to keep themselves, other visitors and the deer safe.

"If you witness someone putting themselves, others or the deer at risk, please report it to the police."

The Metropolitan Police said it does not comment on wildlife crime "other than criminal offences that have a wider and significant impact on local communities".

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