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An actress has vowed to never enter an east London park again after she was attacked by “terrifying” crows swooping down on her head.

Jessica Parkinson, 23, said she was attacked on three separate occasions by the aggressive dive-bombing birds in Mile End Park.

Ms Parkinson said the birds circled overhead, following her along a pathway before flying towards her and pecking her on the head.

The part-time gym instructor said she is now too scared to use the park and will have to find another route to her home in Limehouse.

She said: “One came flying right above my head. I walked really quickly, it swooped into me and swooped towards me as I brandished my M&S bag at it.

“Then yesterday I was walking to Mile End. Suddenly this crow dived at me and I had to run. It was squawking at me as well.”

“There were two of them at 6.20am this morning. I had to run 100 metres. They were right behind me the whole time, it was terrifying.”

Tim Webb, of the RSPB, explained crows become territorial during nesting season and they only fly towards passers-by to protect themselves.

He said: “This is the second incident I have heard involving crows, there was another incident on Lambeth Bridge a week ago.

“It can be quite scary, it can be daunting, even upsetting at the time. People can get scared about big birds like crows.

“Don’t panic, it can make things worse with the birds getting more flustered by people waving their arms and panicking. The best thing you can do is try and move away from the area and protect your head.

“When they are warning you away from their nests or their young they go for the highest part of your body they can reach. They are not trying to claw your eyes out.”

Last year blonde women reported being attacked by dive-bombing crows in a park in Eltham during nesting season.

'I went to check it out - and the crows attacked me too'

I went to Mile End Park to report on the crows and found myself victim of a dive-bombing attack.

When I arrived, the birds were nowhere to be seen, and I have to admit I was sceptical about the whole endeavour.

A victim told me she was attacked on a path which is a shortcut through to Limehouse, so I went off in that direction.

It was not before long I spotted three crows stalking the gravel in front of me.

I quickly got out my iPhone and snapped a few pictures, with the flash off so I would not provoke them.

One of the crows menacingly criss-crossed the path in front of me, and I decided to walk past to get away.

Suddenly I noticed two other birds circling overhead. One of them flew into me, clipping my head with its wings.

I began to run away from the trees feeling like I was in a scene of Hitchcock's The Birds.

Alexandra Rucki