Catherine Lynch was running on the road between Cupar and Stratheden when she felt a "thud" on the back of her head.

"It felt like somebody had hit me with a sledgehammer," she said.

"I saw a dark shadow circling and, when I looked up, what appeared to be a buzzard was preparing to swoop again."

Mrs Lynch was able to fend off the second attack, but the first blow was serious enough to warrant a hospital visit. There, she received a tetanus shot, although the cut did not require stitches.

Cluny-based company Elite Falconry said they had received "two or three" reports of similar incidents from advice-seeking members of the Cupar public.

Stuart Milne, a falconry expert at the centre, said: "We received a few calls from people in Cupar regarding attacks by a bird of prey, which we advised them to refer on to the SSPCA."

However, a spokesperson for the animal charity was unable to confirm that an inspector had been called out to investigate.

Speculating on the origin of the offending bird, Mr Milne said: "We didn't think it would be a wild buzzard, as they tend to be wary of humans.

''During the breeding season, they can be quite territorial and may threaten by circling and swooping, but it's very rare for them to actually attack.

"If someone has been attacked by a bird, then more than likely it's been hand-reared."

A privately owned buzzard also caused a stir in the Cupar area last year.

Fed from hand, the bird associated humans with food and was prone to harrassing members of the public when it was allowed to fly freely.

Mr Milne urged people not to approach a bird of prey, should they come across one while walking or jogging.

He added: "For anyone who does find themself in that situation, our advice would be to ignore the bird as best you can.

"It is certainly not wise to approach or provoke it."

Of her ordeal, Mrs Lynch added: "It was quite frightening really and I'd warn people to be careful in the area - I definitely won't be jogging there again."