A US man says Jesus has appeared to him on a tree.

Brian Quirk says the resemblance of Christ popped up on a silver maple on the sixth anniversary of his father's death.

Curious residents of North Providence, Rhode Island, have flocked to see the eye-catching 3in (7.6cm) mark.

Mr Quirk says he noticed the arboreal anomaly as he worked in the front yard of his home, after visiting his father's grave.

He told the Valley Breeze: "Curiously, it is in the same area where my father would sit outside during his last few months before losing his battle with cancer.

"My mother remains with my family and is recovering from open-heart surgery. A devout Catholic, she finds comfort knowing the image is there."

Mr Quirk's neighbour, Nancy Ganem, was in no doubt that it was a sign from above.

"Even speaking about it I get chills," she told CBS News.

"It's so evident what it is, it's so amazing."