A pigeon which had been nursed back to health by a Skipton bird lover was released back into the wild - only to fly straight home!

Figo the homing pigeon was given away by pigeon expert Dino Reardon six years ago, but dropped out of the sky and was found in a field a mile from Mr Reardon's home with broken legs and ribs last October.

Since then, the former long-distance lorry driver has lovingly nurtured the bird back to health.

"He was exhausted, lying on his back and was just about dead when a man found him while walking his dog," said Mr Reardon.

"I kept him in my car with the heater on, in a harness to take the weight off his legs. I had to feed him every two hours with liquid honey and glucose in a syringe - even at night time, or if I was out driving - for the first five weeks."

Two weeks after being rescued, Figo started to move his toes. But only after three months of constant care did he begin to eat by himself.

"Many a pigeon man would have killed him, but that bird had given his everything to get back here and was exhausted," said Mr Reardon.

"When I took him out today to release him, he flew up on the roof and was very happy," said Mr Reardon, of The Grove. "But then he came straight back. He's not going anywhere so I will keep him as a pet."

Figo's amazing recovery would hold no surprise for members of his pigeon family. His sister Boomerang flew 1,300 miles from her home in Spain back to Skipton, and Figo's father Bluey, was found walking home to Skipton after disappearing and having his wings clipped.

"Every time I give them away, they seem to come back - they are truly amazing," said Mr Reardon, 70.

Figo, who now weighs a healthy 16oz, has settled back into his loft with Mr Reardon's other 20 pigeons.