Feathered friend adds finishing touch to 'live statue'

When you make a living posing as a statue, there are occupational hazards.

Being mistaken for the real thing by passing wildlife is just one of them, as street entertainer Marcel Jar demonstrates in this picture.

Pigeons have become so acclimatised to the "living statues" who entertain tourists in London they are happy to perch on them.

Romanian Mr Jar, 44, is so used to one particular bird dozing on top of his head he has named it Barabbas. "Sometimes I pray that a pigeon will come and land on my head because people put more money in my pot," said Mr Jar, who makes £40 in a typical afternoon.

"I think they feel safe with me. Children chase them and some people kick them and call them flying rats but I love them. In my country poor people keep pigeons in their homes and feed them before eating them but even if I was starving I wouldn't eat one."

Mr Jar's costume consists of a leather coat and trousers as well as a mask, all covered in black enamel paint. It has sometimes fooled passers-by. He said: "One time an old lady who didn't realise I was a real man took my money pot. I said, 'hello lady, what are you doing?' and she looked very shocked and put it back."

The ex-builder, who can say thank you in 30 languages, plans to spend a year in London learning English so he can teach his 10-year-old son, who lives in Romania.