A man has been cautioned by police after specialist wildlife crime officers seized a caged goldfinch bird from an address in Walthamstow.

Met police attended an address in Hibbert Road on May 19 after being contacted by the RSPCA about ‘wild’ birds being kept at and sold from the property.

When carrying out a search of the house officers seized a goldfinch which was found caged in the sitting room.

As they walked towards the cage the bird began flying “furiously” towards the bars.

All wild birds are protected under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

However, the bird was not ringed, and officers suspected it was illegally caught.

On May 21 a 38-year-old man was cautioned at Waltham Forest Custody Centre after admitting an offence under Section 1 (2)a of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, of keeping a wild bird.

The bird has been taken to a wildlife centre and will be rehabilitated before being released into the wild.