Pensioner 'mugged' by bald eagle

A pensioner has had her handbag snatched by a bald eagle with a seven-foot wingspan.

Police were called to the incident when 69-year-old Klara Maier was attacked by the bird, which swooped down to grab her bag before pulling it open to look at the contents.

Officers in Kundl, western Austria later found the bird in a field and returned it to its owner, Ananova reports.

A police source said: "It's a trained bird which got out into the wild. It's never had to find food for itself before and the woman's handbag was the same colour and shape as the bag its owner keeps his food in.

"The eagle is a bit battered and bruised but will recover."

Owner Ernst Koenig said: "He's a very peaceful bird. He was starving and thought the handbag had some food in it."