Few things grab the eye more than the sight of a man sitting on a bench in a busy city with a fully-grown goose.

Winchester shoppers just had to have a gander on Friday morning when they stumbled across South African author, Acton Kaye, in the High Street and fowl companion, Admiral Nelson.

They were in town to entertain the crowds and try and sell some of Acton's children's books - which feature the adventures of Admiral Nelson, which he reared from a gosling 14 years ago.

"The English are a nation of animal-lovers and people just love him and he makes friends wherever he goes," said Acton (64), who lives in Cape Town.

The wildlife lover wrote his first book about Admiral Nelson in 1994 and has spent the last year touring the UK and giving talks in schools, using his feathered friend as a means of communicating with youngsters.

"Animals can be real friends and have a lot to teach us if we're willing to learn. I find I'm able to communicate really well, but he's the smarter than me. He's learning my language faster than I can learn his!"

Chris France (14), of Alresford, was certainly one passer-by impressed by the Admiral. "It's interesting and a good way to sell his books. You see dogs all the time, but geese. I might buy one of his books later," he said.