THE rare European eagle owl found at Norton Priory last week has found a home.

The three-year-old bird of prey is thought to have been released from captivity illegally because an Independent Bird Register ring was found around one of her legs.

Angela Peacock, community and education officer at Norton Priory said: 'We were worried that the bird might prove dangerous for any dogs being walked through the woods and even small children possibly, so we needed to rescue her as quickly as possible.

'I spent all day ringing various people that I knew owned birds of prey in the area, with the help of my colleague Paul Quigley.

'Eventually I managed to get hold of the Raptor Rescue Helpline, who put me in touch with two keepers of birds of prey, Terry Lewis and Peter Southern, who kindly dropped everything to come and help us and eventually managed to coax her down with some food.

'We've had a few wild birds come into Norton Priory, but never anything like this.'

The owl has now been rehomed with Stephen and Carol Davidson, from Warrington, who already have a male eagle owl and hope the two will become mates.

And the owl has now been named Kitty after a Victorian maidservant who died in an accident at a local pool.