A Kestrel which lost its way back home has been reunited with its owner.

Stuart Auty of Westburn Avenue, Oxenhope, thought he had lost the bird for good - until he saw a photo of her in last week's Keighley News. The young kestrel had been found by bird of prey expert Howard Toll, who contacted us to try to find its owner.

Stuart told us: "After the picture went in the paper the phone was red hot, so I called Howard and he brought her over to me. It is absolutely wonderful to see her back here again, and it's great to watch her sitting in the garden."

The bird of prey lost its way last weekend, after Stuart took her to Appletreewick in the Dales for a spot of exercise.

The distinctive kestrel was found by a woman in Ingrow, who saw it in her back garden and contacted Wilsden-based ornithologist Howard, who cares for sick birds of prey.

He took the stray kestrel under his wing, and looked after the bird until its rightful owner stepped forward. He told us: "It's nice to return them to where they belong, and it's a great feeling to release them back into the wild or see owners reunited with their birds."

Although the kestrel landed only a mile away from her home in Oxenhope, she finished up travelling more than 20 miles in the back of a car.

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