Delightful photographs have captured deer during the rutting season in south west London's Richmond Park.

Wildlife photographer Lesley Marshall recorded striking images of stags locking antlers in displays of strength, as well as light-hearted moments, including one animal with foliage tangled in its antlers and another poking out its tongue.

A deer in Richmond Park with its tongue out (credit: SWNS).

Lesley said: "The highlights for me in this pack are the stags looking magnificent as the rut gets into full swing.

A deer with foliage tangled in its antlers (credit: SWNS).

"They are making themselves look large with foliage in their antlers, bellowing loudly to make themselves appear more dominant, sticking their tongues out at random female photographers, and even having a snooze in a muddy wallow following an exhausting morning tussling with other males and chasing hinds about the place."

Two male deers clashing during rutting season (credit: SWNS).

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