IMAGINE my surprise whilst gardening on Tuesday this week and pruning a large shrub to have an unusual visitor to my garden.

Not a heron, but a lovely snowy white egret who thought he knew where he could get a mid morning fish snack.

I chased him off as far as the nearest lamp post where we eyed each other until two quick claps and he was away over the rooftops back to Poole Harbour.

The pond is now netted, so remaining goldfish have a chance to survive a little longer.

BRIAN J GALPIN Tatnam Road, Poole